[ben_w]

How much are you willing to simplify?

Because if you need to explain GPS at the level of the impact of general relativity, my understanding is that by itself is already a topic normally introduced in the final year of a physics degree.

If you're OK with simplifying to "time passes at a different rate for the satellites, here's the equation, I will not explain why it works just roll with it", why insist on ceasing to use it if the foundation isn't understandable?

[6510]

You can do GPS by triangulation using existing radio towers with known location. It is very simple.

[ben_w]

G for global.

What you've suggested doesn't work at high resolution at sea or in the wilderness due to lack of radio towers at suitable frequencies, atmospheric variations and ducting influencing the signal of the existing systems.

Doesn't work in valleys or cities due to multipath reflections.

Only works in low rise areas or while flying at high altitude.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio_propagation

That's why the satellites got built in the first place, and why China and the EU added their own satellites to the US and Russian global navigation satellite system.

[jiggawatts]

Trying to explains generative AI to a lay person already feels like a wizard trying to explain a magic spell.

“There’s a lot more going on than just saying a sentence and then things happen!”

[rustcleaner]

I like to refer them to Taylor polynomials as an analogue to what's happening.