As the global population ages, there’s an increasing demand for innovative solutions to support seniors living independently at home. In her TEDxOshkosh talk, Mai Lee Chang, a postdoctoral researcher at Carnegie Mellon’s Human-Computer Interaction Institute, discussed how artificial intelligence (AI) can play an important role in addressing this need.

Chang opened her talk by sharing a compelling analogy: “Training a guide dog to understand paradoxes is relevant to training AI systems that support people because these systems also need to understand paradoxes.” This concept underscores the complexity and adaptability required in AI systems designed to assist seniors.

One of the primary focuses of Chang’s work is developing AI systems to help seniors age in place.

“A really exciting area is designing AI to help older adults age in place, that is, to continue to live in their homes instead of going to a care facility,” she explained. These AI systems are crafted to support various tasks, from cooking and managing finances to coordinating schedules and medication management.

The AI-Caring National Science Foundation AI Institute, where Chang conducts her research, aims to create “intelligent, interactive, personalized, and ethically driven” systems. These systems include robots, smarter versions of Siri and Google Home, chatbots, and virtual agents. Chang notes, “Working in this area is really exciting and also challenging at the same time.”

Acceptance of AI support among older adults is a significant challenge. Chang shares insights from her research: “We found that older adults who are healthy are hesitant to accept bot support because accepting the bot meant that they are also accepting the possibility of future decline.” This paradox highlights the delicate balance between the perceived need for independence and the potential benefits of AI assistance.

Chang stressed the importance of ethical considerations in AI design.

“Bots need to consider ethics to minimize unintended harm, including recognizing and avoiding behavior related to exploitation, domination, deception, and unjustified paternalism,” she said. This ethical framework is crucial to ensure that AI systems act in the best interests of seniors while respecting their autonomy.

To end, Chang expressed her optimism for the future of AI in senior care.

“I’m very hopeful and also very excited for a future where bots can help provide a home for our loved ones that gives them the gifts of independent time and continued life purpose,” said Chang. With thoughtful design and ethical considerations, AI has the potential to transform the way we care for our aging population, allowing them to live more independently and with greater dignity.

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