Older Adults Excluded from AI Safety Discussions
Seniors are increasingly being left out of crucial AI safety conversations, leaving them vulnerable to scams and misinformation. Researchers are calling for education and increased awareness.
Older adults are increasingly being excluded from important conversations surrounding artificial intelligence (AI) safety, leaving them significantly vulnerable to AI-enabled scams, misinformation, and other dangers. Researchers at the Center for Deeply Human Leadership emphasize that this vulnerability often stems from unintentional omission rather than deliberate exclusion.
"Digital immigrants, meaning older individuals whose lives have seen AI emerge later, are contending with a world where AI is slipping into every crevice. They often miss out on opportunities to learn about AI safety," says Gretchen Terry-Leonard, cofounder and chief strategy and impact officer at the institute. While some seniors may seek information from younger generations or news outlets, many may not even recognize they are using AI—for example, predictive text or virtual assistants might go unidentified as AI tools.
According to Brittne Kakulla, a senior research adviser in consumer insights for AARP Research, older adults may not always recognize AI or know how to evaluate the information it provides. Studies indicate that 23% of U.S. adults aged 65 and older use AI chatbots, nearly doubling from 2024. The primary interest in AI is in healthcare; older adults want AI to simplify health information. However, this also presents a significant safety concern, as even AI tools specialized for healthcare have proven unreliable in critical situations.
Older adults generally hold less negative perceptions of AI's impact on society compared to younger age groups. According to Pew Research, only 35% of adults over 65 predicted a negative impact of AI on society, compared to 48% of young adults. Furthermore, a significant portion of older respondents also reported being unsure about AI's effects, highlighting the need for increased awareness and education.
Researchers are calling for education and investment to promote AI literacy among seniors. Robin Brewer, an associate professor at the University of Michigan, suggests that senior centers could offer AI-related training. It is also crucial to teach critical thinking skills for evaluating AI-generated content. Terry-Leonard advises caution regarding the "confident, cloned, and lone" voices that AI uses, reminding that "never let a machine have the last word about your body; discuss it with one or more people before you act."