Why AI Needs the Wisdom of Older Adults

AI Is Missing the Wisdom of Older Adults

AI is shaping healthcare and finance more every day. Yet, the people building these systems are mostly young workers, often overlooking a vital perspective: that of older adults. This gap raises concerns about how well AI will serve a population that’s growing older and relies heavily on these technologies.

The Missing Piece in AI Design

In places like California’s tech hubs, AI is advancing fast—transforming work, banking, and health management. However, these innovations often lack guidance from older, experienced voices. History shows that many great tech breakthroughs involved mentorship between young innovators and seasoned experts. Today, that balance is skewed, with younger talent leading the charge alone.

More than 120 million Americans are over 50, and by 2030, one in five people will be 65 or older. Despite this, 59% of Americans over 50 say technology isn’t designed with them in mind. Steve Jobs famously said, “Design is how it works,” but many older adults feel left behind because current designs prioritize flash over function.

Dr. Brittne Kakulla from AARP highlights the disconnect: older adults value practicality, while tech companies chase speed and novelty. This disconnect could lead to AI systems that don’t meet the needs of older users—or worse, fail everyone due to lack of inclusive design.

Bias Built Into AI Systems

AI learns from data, and the quality of that data shapes what AI produces. If data or design teams lack age diversity, AI can inherit biases. A study published in Nature found age bias throughout AI development stages.

Examples are already emerging. Recent research shows AI chatbots often respond with age-related stereotypes. Even popular AI systems can echo false or harmful narratives, like Elon Musk’s Grok chatbot, which spread misinformation despite unrelated queries.

Why Feedback Matters

When using AI chatbots or language models, watch for age-related bias or inaccuracies. Most platforms allow you to give feedback via thumbs-up, thumbs-down, or report buttons. Philosopher Matteo Pasquinelli noted that AI depends on human input and creativity, but if older perspectives are missing, AI’s understanding remains incomplete.

AI’s Impact on Healthcare and Work for Older Adults

Healthcare increasingly relies on AI for diagnosis and treatment plans. But if AI models are trained mostly on younger populations, they risk missing or misinterpreting symptoms in older adults. The World Health Organization warns that biased AI could worsen healthcare disparities for seniors.

In the workplace, AI changes hiring and job requirements. Yet, age bias persists. Only 32% of U.S. employers are likely to consider candidates over 60 for AI-related roles, compared to 90% for younger applicants. Ironically, older workers already on teams perform as well or better than younger colleagues. When such biases influence who builds AI, the technology itself becomes less effective and inclusive.

The Case for Including Older Adults in AI

The stereotype that older adults avoid technology is outdated. AARP reports generative AI use among those 50+ doubled in 2024, with many excited about its potential. Many mid- and late-career professionals are self-taught AI users, engaging with tools regularly at work.

Including older adults in AI development offers clear benefits:

• Age-diverse teams identify design blind spots early.
• Training data can better reflect the realities of aging.
• Experienced professionals provide valuable oversight and judgment.

Dr. Kakulla recommends designing for different life stages. For example, translation tools can help a traveler in their 50s, support speech-to-text for those in their 70s, and aid communication with caregivers for people in their 80s.

Conclusion

The shape of AI depends on who builds and guides it. Ignoring older adults risks repeating a costly mistake: undervaluing wisdom until it’s too late. As Benjamin Franklin said, “Life’s tragedy is that we get old too soon and wise too late.” It’s crucial to ensure AI benefits from the full spectrum of human experience.

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