Seniors Are Adults: Bridging the Age Gap in AI App Accessibility

Table of Contents

• AI Apps For Seniors
• AI Apps For Adults 
• Seniors Versus Adults Age Gap in AI
• Broadening Ideas on Potential Users of Apps 
• How To Bring Change 
• References

One of the things we do at The Inclusive AI is review apps. We write and review apps for seniors, both in written form and on our YouTube channel. During our search for age gaps in AI apps tailored to Age Gap in AI, we were dismayed by the overall results.

AI Apps For Seniors

There are eighteen apps that we could find, all of which are designed for therapy, medical monitoring, companionship for older people, or caregiver coordination. The AI community often assumes that all seniors are vulnerable, requiring treatment and caregivers.

While a significant portion of the senior population may indeed need these services, especially as the general population ages, it’s important to recognize that this concept does not apply to the majority of seniors.

AI Apps For Adults

However, in my search for AI apps designed for adults, the initial page of Google search results presented articles featuring 71 apps.

While a significant number of these applications were chatbots, this search revealed a much greater diversity among them. Many of these chatbots were explicitly designed as girlfriend bots or intimate companions.

Other bots encompassed therapy bots, financial advisors, audio transcription, fitness trackers, GPS, and traffic applications, and many image and video manipulation apps. Some chatbots allow you to create an avatar to chat with, rather than just exchange plain text messages.

There were also tutor apps, language learning apps, gaming apps, and document-proofing apps. This is just a partial list of available apps designed for adults.

Seniors Versus Adults Age Gap in AI

All applications in the search tab under “Adult AI apps” were equally suitable for seniors. The World Health Organization has identified significant ageism in how age gap in AI interacts with seniors. Based on search results, we can only infer that ageism is influencing the tags or search terms people include in the application descriptions.

The lack of insight into the potential users of an application leads to those applications not being discovered when searched for using the term “senior.”

Broadening Ideas on Potential Users of Apps

The debate over search terms may seem trivial to individuals designing applications for adults. However, it is not merely a matter of semantics; words have significance. Seniors are adults. We are not invisible. It is crucial to guarantee that seniors are included when app search terms are used.

Just because someone is mature does not mean they are decrepit. We use the same apps as younger audiences. While our usage may vary, seniors do actively use these applications.  

How To Bring Change

To bring about change in an industry, you must make it known that what they are doing is economically unsustainable. AI companies are no different. Seniors should emphasize that we use all applications, not just the ones for vulnerable older adults who can’t care for themselves.

If you like using an app, share your thoughts on social media and let people know your age. It may encourage other people on the apps, benefit those around you, and ultimately bring rewards for both you and people your age.

Drop a comment directly to the company about the app, and don’t forget to mention your age. Speak up on social media when AI apps show age bias. Seniors have some serious spending influence. Let’s use it in the AI world to tackle all kinds of ageism.

References

World Health Organization. (2023). Ageism in artificial intelligence for health. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240040793

Essien, E. (2024, February 1). Penn State’s Bias-a-thon: A Beacon for Ethical AI in the 21st Century. The Inclusive AI. https://theinclusiveai.com/penn-state-bias-a-thon-beacon-ethical-ai/