Wherever AI is heading next, older people want a say
Wherever AI is heading next, older people want a say
https://theconversation.com/wherever-ai-is-heading-next-older-people-want-a-say-285580
Publish Date: 2026-07-16 06:39:00
Source Domain: theconversation.com
Older people are being left out of decisions about how artificial intelligence is being built.
Many older adults are highly skilled, curious about emerging technologies and keen to learn about AI; they’re interested in its potential for our society. However, research shows that many employers still assume older employees are less tech-savvy.
Consequently, older adults often miss out on job opportunities or are passed over for promotions, even when they have the skills, training and expertise required.
The AI industry is a case in point. Rather than reflecting the full range of possible users, its workforce is largely made up of young men and runs the risk of developing apps and tools that reproduce these gender and age biases.
In fact, a growing body of research shows that older adults are consistently under-represented in the development of AI models. This makes those systems less accurate when it comes to recognizing and responding to the needs or preferences of older users.
For example, a study of AI-generated images found that pictures of older people are consistently and systematically less bright and less sharp than images of younger people.
The Grey Revolution, a series produced by The Conversation Canada/La Conversation.
This article is part of our ongoing series The Grey Revolution. The Conversation Canada and La Conversation are exploring the impact of the aging boomer generation on Canadian society, including housing, working, culture, nutrition, travelling and health care. The series explores the upheavals already underway and those looming ahead.
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