Are Old People Too Old For AI?

Welcome to this week’s Deep-fried Dive with Fry Guy! In these long-form articles, Fry Guy conducts in-depth analyses of cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) developments and developers. Today, Fry Guy dives into whether old people are too old for AI. We hope you enjoy!

*Notice: We do not receive any monetary compensation from the people and projects we feature in the Sunday Deep-Fried Dives with Fry Guy. We explore these projects and developers solely to reveal interesting and cutting-edge AI developments and uses.*

For younger folks, watching an old person try to figure out technology is … painful. For older adults, the experience is not any more enjoyable.

Technology is moving at a rapid rate, and it’s hard for anyone—at any age—to keep up. Although many of the latest AI-driven advancements offer exciting promise for the future, the learning curve is incredibly difficult, especially for those who were raised without cell phones and color TV.

Imagine going from adjusting bunny ears to get a signal, to now having to figure out how to use Grok-2 on X to create an image of Donald Trump eating a hamburger. Or scarier, having to learn a new AI-powered system for work. It’s not an easy feat, which begs the question: are old people too old for AI?

A YOUNG MAN’S GAME

ChatGPT was launched by OpenAI on November 30, 2022. In less than two years, it has garnered over 200 million monthly visitors who are looking for a conversational way to get answers to questions and search the web. The number of users is growing at an exponential pace, as usage is up over 100% from just a year ago, with no signs of slowing down.

Despite ChatGPT’s massive early adoption, older people remain incredibly out of the loop and hesitant to adopt AI. According to Backlinko research, 23% of American adults have never even used ChatGPT, and 43% of ChatGPT’s monthly users are between the ages of 18-29. Users between 50-64? 17%. Users over 65? Forget about it.

Although older adults are not using AI, that does not mean they don’t know about AI. In August, Foresight 50+ Omnibus conducted a survey of adults aged 50 and older, discovering that only 9% percent had not heard of or read about AI. I mean, how can you not? It’s all the rage these days—AI is featured on almost every commercial and is included in most new products. However, when this 50+ group was asked if they were familiar with using the technology, only 17% said they were. So herein lies the issue. Older people are hearing about AI, but they are either skeptical about using it or just don’t know how.

Traditionally, older people are slower to adopt new technology. This comes as no surprise. Everyone knows the senior citizen on a flip phone or the old geezer who listens to the radio instead of Apple Music or Spotify. There is something about familiarity that is comfortable and convenient. And learning new technology can be frustrating and hard. So if it works, why not keep things they way they are? This seems to make good sense.

While this approach might work for cellphones, TVs, and radio, there is something different about AI—the world is becoming infused with it. This mirrors the impact of the internet in the early 2000’s—it simply cannot be avoided. Those who are not able to use AI are getting phased out from job opportunities, and AI scams are at an all-time-high. In fact, an AARP report published in 2023 revealed that Americans over 60 years old lose $28.3 billion annually through financial extortion schemes that have been sophisticated by AI. This number continues to worsen, as AI-generated text, images, and voices are tricking more and more older adults on social media platforms like Facebook and through e-commerce. Soon, it may be difficult to function normally in society, hold a job, or avoid misinformation without having at least some familiarity with the technology.

A WILLINGNESS TO LEARN

Older adults today have seen more changes in technology than any other generation in history. One 89-year-old woman remarked, “I remember the introduction of electrical refrigeration—going from an ice box where the ice man delivered a huge block of ice to a refrigerator. That’s how far back I go.” Technological innovation has boomed over the past 100 years more than any time in human history, leaving today’s older generation in a spot unlike any other. On one hand, getting to live through innovation is incredible and exciting. But for many, it’s very difficult to keep up. As soon as a person starts to figure out how to use one form of technology, it’s already a thing of the past. And the new surge of AI hasn’t helped the cause.

The rise of AI has been confusing for many older adults, and it has caused them to be conflicted about its application. The study from Foresight 50+ Omnibus found that older adults have incredibly mixed comfort levels on the implementation of AI. Many find the technology promising for less-risk tasks like providing customer service or providing entertainment recommendations, but they don’t trust the technology to drive cars or provide hiring recommendations.

It’s no surprise that AI strikes fear into the hearts of many older adults (and younger people as well). There is much we don’t know about how the technology works or how it can and will be deployed going forward. Is it going to overtake humanity? A lot of smart people think this is a possibility! For many, this much unknown causes a fear and skepticism about the technology. Linda Chipko, age 70, summarized, “I want to know about it. I do want to know how to use it. I want to understand it. But … it’s not for me.”

THE SILVER LINING

Although AI can be scary, its applications for older adults have shown promise. To paint a negative picture of AI for older adults would be unfair. For instance, AI has offered applications in healthcare, communication, and more, which increase the quality of life for elderly folks.

One of the most exciting applications of AI in elder care is real-time health monitoring. By leveraging AI, wearable devices and home sensors can now track vital signs, detect falls, and predict health issues before they become emergencies. This technology allows seniors to be more autonomous while ensuring help is always within reach. One example of this is CarePredict, a wearable device that learns the daily patterns of its wearers. It alerts caregivers to deviations from these patterns, which might indicate health issues or falls. This device has the potential to ensure timely medical intervention if needed, potentially saving lives.

Another great application is AI’s use in personalized care. Machine learning algorithms are now able to tailor health and wellness plans for individuals, considering their unique health histories, preferences, and needs. These customizable healthcare solutions allow for individualized treatment rather than one-size-fits-all approaches. For instance, AI-powered tools like MindMate use games and activities designed to boost cognitive function and help older individuals stay mentally sharp. In the background of these games, the AI algorithms track user progress and adjust the difficulty levels, offering a personalized brain health plan.

One of the most controversial yet helpful innovations for older adults is the usage of virtual assistants and companions. As Forbes stated, “Imagine a world where the elderly, who might spend hours or days without human contact, have a companion that listens, learns, and interacts with them, keeping loneliness at bay.” AI-powered companions and care agents are making this a reality. These companions have the ability to remind seniors about medications and appointments as well as talk to them when they are lonely. One example of this is EliQ, an AI-powered device designed specifically for the elderly. ElliQ offers conversation, entertainment, answers to questions, mental and physical health exercises, and can help with communication. This makes life just a little bit easier.

These areas are just a few of the many areas that AI is helping to enhance for older adults. The applications of AI are vast, and for those who are willing to trust and explore AI systems, the future looks bright.

COMFORT IN EDUCATION

It’s no secret that AI has both positive and negative applications. But one way to get more comfortable with AI’s massive adoption is to get educated about how the technology works and stay informed about its implementation. Education in AI will help many stay away from the negatives of the technology and leverage the positives.

To help older adults with AI education, AARP has been conducting classes both in-person and virtually. The aim of these classes is to educate older adults about the technology and teach them the basics. “It’s tricky,” said Michael Gershbein, the instructor of a class in Northfield, IL. “Overall, the suspicion that is there on the part of seniors is good but I don’t want them to become paralyzed from their fears and not be willing to do anything online.”

Diane Stone, from the National Council of Aging, stated, “Older adults are future oriented. They want to know what is going on. So it’s really important to understand the potential of AI but also the limitations—so it can be approached with a healthy skepticism.”

Older adults have had to learn a lot in their lifetimes, from one innovation to another. Those who have lived through decades of innovation understand the importance of keeping up with the latest trends. At the end of the day, age will not matter as much as education. Those who stay educated about AI by taking advantage of free classes or keeping up with the latest in the space through a newsletter like ours (FryAI) will be just fine. Those who fail to be proactive in their understanding of AI, however, will certainly be left behind.