Synthetic intelligence is a vigorous subject of dialog in colleges and workplaces, which may lead you to imagine that solely youthful individuals use it. Nevertheless, older People are additionally utilizing AI. This raises the questions of what they’re doing with the know-how and what they consider it.
I’m a researcher who research older age, incapacity, and know-how use. I partnered with the College of Michigan’s National Poll on Healthy Aging to survey practically 3,000 People over the age of fifty. We requested them whether or not and the way they use AI and what issues they’ve about utilizing it.
Of the older individuals we surveyed, 55% responded that that they had used some kind of AI know-how that they will communicate to, like Amazon’s Alexa voice assistant, or kind to, like OpenAI’s ChatGPT chatbot. Voice assistants have been overwhelmingly extra common than textual content chatbots: Half of them reported utilizing a voice assistant throughout the previous 12 months, in comparison with one in 4 who used a chatbot.
Well-liked, amongst some
Unbiased dwelling continues to be a major goal of older Americans as they both don’t wish to or are unable to afford to reside in long-term care communities, and AI could also be a device to assist this purpose. Our findings present that older adults who use AI of their houses discover it useful for dwelling independently and safely.
They largely used these applied sciences for leisure or looking for info, however a few of their responses present extra artistic makes use of, akin to producing textual content, creating photographs, or planning holidays.
Almost one in three older adults reported utilizing AI-powered house safety gadgets, together with doorbells, out of doors cameras, and alarm programs. Almost all of these individuals—96%—felt safer utilizing them.
Whereas there was some concern about privacy when utilizing cameras indoors to watch older individuals, cameras aimed outside appear to supply a way of safety for many who could also be growing older of their houses alone or with out household close by. Of the 35% of older adults who reported utilizing AI-powered house safety programs, 96% stated they have been helpful.
Nevertheless, once we dove into which older adults are utilizing AI, we noticed that demographics matter. Particularly, these in higher well being, with extra schooling, and better incomes have been extra more likely to have used AI-powered voice assistants and residential safety gadgets previously 12 months. This sample appears to comply with adoption trends of other technologies akin to smartphones.
Trusting AI is difficult
As extra details about AI’s accuracy emerges, so do questions on whether or not individuals can belief it. Our survey outcomes present that older People are cut up on whether or not to belief content material that was generated by AI: 54% stated they belief AI, and 46% stated they don’t. Individuals who trusted AI extra have been extra more likely to have used some kind of AI know-how throughout the previous 12 months.
Additional, AI-generated content material can typically look correct but be inaccurate. Having the ability to establish incorrect info from AI is essential for assessing whether or not and the way to use AI-generated search outcomes or chatbots. Nevertheless, solely half of the older individuals surveyed have been assured that they may establish whether or not content material from AI was incorrect.
Extra educated customers have been extra more likely to say they felt assured they may spot inaccuracies. Conversely, older adults who reported decrease ranges of bodily and psychological well being have been much less more likely to belief AI-generated content material.
What to do?
Collectively, these findings repeat a typical cycle of know-how adoption that’s pervasive even amongst youthful demographics, the place extra educated and wholesome individuals are among the many first to undertake and pay attention to newer applied sciences. This raises questions on how greatest to succeed in all older individuals about the advantages and dangers of AI.
How can older people who find themselves not AI customers get assist for studying extra in order that they will make knowledgeable selections about whether or not to make use of it? How can establishments develop higher coaching and consciousness instruments in order that older individuals who belief AI keep away from trusting it an excessive amount of or inappropriately utilizing AI to make essential selections with out understanding the dangers?
Our survey outcomes spotlight potential beginning factors for creating AI literacy instruments for older adults. 9 in ten older individuals wished to know when info had been generated by AI. We’re beginning to see AI labels on search engine outcomes, akin to Google search’s AI snippets.
Michigan and other states have adopted insurance policies for disclosing AI content in political adverts, however these notices may very well be made extra seen in different contexts, akin to nonpolitical promoting and on social media. Additional, practically 80% of older individuals wished to study extra about AI dangers—the place may it go incorrect and what to do about it.
Policymakers can give attention to implementing AI notices that sign content material was generated by AI, notably at a crucial time when the U.S. is considering revising its AI policies to do exactly the other—eradicating language about danger, discrimination, and misinformation—based mostly on a new executive order.
General, our findings present that AI can assist wholesome growing older. Nevertheless, overtrust and distrust of AI may very well be addressed with higher coaching instruments and insurance policies to make dangers extra seen.
Robin Brewer is an affiliate professor of data on the University of Michigan.
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