Older adults often find artificial intelligence smart home devices and voice assistants useful in helping them age in place, according to a new survey by the University of Michigan.
More than half of people surveyed aged 50 and older have used generative AI tools they spoke or typed messages to, according to the National Poll on Healthy Aging, released by the U-M Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation.
By comparison, a June Pew Research Center poll found that 25% of US adults 50 to 64 and 10% of those 65 and older had used ChatGPT, OpenAI's flagship AI tool and the most popular chatbot. (Disclosure: Ziff Davis, CNET's parent company, in April filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.)
The Michigan survey, a telephone poll of 2,883 adults ages 50 to 97 across the US, looked not only at text-based chatbots like ChatGPT but also voice assistants like Amazon's Alexa and Apple's Siri. Most significantly, the survey found nearly all older adults want to be sure when they're receiving information generated by AI.
"AI is here to stay. Many older adults seem to know about its benefits, yet most want more information about potential risks when using AI technologies," Robin Brewer, an assistant professor in the U-M School of Information, said in a statement. "The near-universal interest in clear labeling of AI-generated information should also be heeded by policymakers and the AI industry."
Smart home devices help older adults maintain independence
The Michigan researchers found 51% of Americans aged 50 or older had used voice assistants in the past year, with 80% of those saying the devices helped them live independently and safely at home. AI-powered home security devices, like smart locks, cameras and alarm systems, were used by 35% of the adults, with 96% saying they helped them live independently.
"Smart home devices frequently suggest using their latest features to watch over older relatives or help them live better lives," CNET smart home expert Tyler Lacoma said. "AI face recognition, for example, can send alerts to a family member if it spots someone leaving their home or granny pod to go shopping. Smart locks, meanwhile, make sure that older users never forget to lock the doors when they leave. I'm curious to see what the newest AI voice assistants like Gemini and Alexa Plus will bring to the table for older adults, perhaps by making more complex home technology easier to use with simple conversation."
Another 14% of adults reported using AI to receive health-related information, although 47% of them said they'd rather interact with a person or by phone for that kind of information.
Older adults are generally skeptical of AI
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