AI and machine learning

Lots of blah-blah about AI and risk these days. The backlash has begun. Maybe it’s a good thing – or maybe it’s too late. Perhaps the AI agents have jumped out of the bag, beyond the firewall and are running amok. Perhaps we have no idea what they are doing. It’s like people coming into your building to work that you didn’t hire or vet. And they cover their tracks! The latest ‘innovation’ is from that purveyor of invasive software, Meta. Meta, the leading pioneer of personal data misuse and abuse has brought us Muse, which is busy building a dossier on you – what matters to you, what nudges shape your behavior. Cooking up meeting outlines while you cook. Do you trust them with even more of your personal info? Seriously?

This Aging in Place Tech blog was launched officially in 2009. We asked ChatGPT to give the December, 2009 blogs a review and compare them to October, 2025 blogs to see what changed in terms of topics and tone.  In 2009, it detected an emerging market and observations about immature and simplistic products and gadgetry. Remember GE’s acquisition of QuietCare? It detected frustration with fragmented markets, poor adoption and naïve assumptions in the market about older adults. ChatGPT also noticed observations about poor usability and lack of integration among products, vendor hype (touch screens had just emerged), as well as the need for market education.  The belief in 2009 was that older adults could and would adopt technology if it is useful and respectful.

Recent research highlights AI opportunities for care-related organizations. The recent report AI and Older Adults – What’s Now and Next in 2026 highlights problems and potential for the uses of artificial intelligence in organizations that serve older adults. While caution is warranted and barriers are visible, senior living and home care firms will likely move forward in the near term on AI initiatives. Why? Because worker shortages, stretched staff and ultimately customer demand will mandate change. This includes AI agents to help improve efficiency, screen applicants more effectively, and free up more time to better serve clients. From the report, here are possibilities for both home care and senior living organizations.

The hype still outpaces adoption. According to the Wall Street Journal in August, companies are slowing their rate of AI adoption amidst some stumbles among innovators. As in the 2023 report, there is still trepidation, and the Pew Research April 2025 study shows that experts are more optimistic than the general public about AI’s potential. Are older adults lagging today’s pace of adoption of AI?

As interviews begin, ideas for the future of AI and older adults are emerging.  For the updated report, The Future of AI and Older Adults 2030, suggestions for the future are key to the conversation. As interviews are scheduled and completed, recommendations emerge. These ideas are sensibly building on what would be useful for older adults, coupled with what has already been delivered in the marketplace. For each of these ideas, the report will also consider the barriers that may hobble full adoption, including lack of awareness, training (both for the consumer side and professional), and acceptable cost.  But for now, imagine that by 2030:

The aging population has significant implications.  Consider a few assumptions:   Average life expectancy at 65 is mid-80’s, though many will live into their 90s. Older adults want to remain in their home as long as possible.  A quarter of men aged 75+ and 43% of women live alone.   Reports indicate that 46% of those aged 75+ have a disability.  It’s not much of a stretch to imagine that as many as half will need some kind of care assistance in their home at some point.  It is also likely that most people will not be able to afford 24x7 home care. But even if they could afford it, there is a severe home care worker shortage that is likely to worsen over the coming years as baby boomers enter their 80s.