What does computer literacy mean for 2026? (sjg.io)

The piece stakes out a practical definition of “computer literacy” for 2026: not just email and spreadsheets, but the ability to stay secure, use AI as a collaborator, be a power user of everyday apps, make sense of data, and act with digital responsibility and ethics. The author argues this is already a hiring and workplace reality—roles across law, health, accounting and parenting now expect medium-to-high digital skills—and that literacy is both protection (against phishing, account takeover, misinformation) and acceleration (hours saved, clearer decision‑making). Key technical takeaways and implications: move beyond passwords to phishing‑resistant sign‑in such as passkeys or FIDO2 hardware keys (YubiKey, Titan) and prefer authenticator apps over SMS; adopt a password manager (Bitwarden, 1Password) and remove weak recovery fallbacks. Treat AI as a drafting partner: pick the right mode (e.g., GPT‑5 “Chat” vs “Thinking”, Deep Research for cited reports, Data Analysis for math/code) verify sources, avoid pasting secrets, and use paid tiers when advanced reasoning or citation tools matter. Become a power user by automating small workflows and using app features to save time. Overall, literacy in 2026 is about understanding how modern tools “think, talk, and connect” so individuals can protect identity, amplify productivity, and responsibly navigate AI-driven work.