is a hot topic of discussion among nearly all demographics. However, it might seem that only young, socially active individuals are utilizing it.
Surprisingly, older Americans. Researchers from the University of Michigan were curious about how they are engaging with these cutting-edge technologies, what their thoughts are, and whether they trust them.
What Did the Researchers Discover?
A team of scientists led by Robin Brewer, who studies technology use among seniors, surveyed about 3,000 older Americans. The researchers were primarily interested in whether respondents used artificial intelligence, for what purposes, and what concerns they had.
Fifty-five percent of participants reported that they had already used AI technologies, specifically Amazon’s voice assistant Alexa and the conversational AI from OpenAI.
Voice assistants proved to be significantly more popular than text-based chatbots. Half of the participants reported using a voice assistant in the past year, while only one in four mentioned using a chatbot.
How Are Older Americans Using AI?
Living independently is a reality for many older residents in the U.S. Many do not want to live in nursing homes or simply cannot afford to. Thus, AI becomes an essential tool for this demographic, helping them organize a comfortable, safe life and combat feelings of loneliness.
Participants reported using these primarily for entertainment or information-seeking. Some turned to AI for more creative tasks, such as generating text, images, or planning vacations.
Nearly one in three volunteers mentioned using AI-based home security devices, such as doorbells, outdoor cameras, and alarm systems. Ninety-six percent of these respondents stated that these innovations made them feel more secure, according to Science Alert.
The team also found that individuals with better health, higher education levels, and greater income were more likely to use voice assistants and AI-based home security devices.
Should We Trust AI?
Opinions among respondents about trusting AI-generated content were divided. Fifty-four percent expressed trust, while 46 percent were skeptical. Interestingly, those who trusted AI were more likely to have used some form of technology in the past year.
Only half of the respondents felt confident in their ability to identify whether AI-generated content was inaccurate or fake, and these were primarily the more educated participants.
Meanwhile, older adults with lower physical and mental health were less likely to trust AI-generated content.
The study’s findings highlight the need to improve technology literacy among seniors regarding artificial intelligence. Overall, researchers concluded that AI can contribute to healthy.
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