Older adults encouraged to embrace artificial intelligence

Many older adults are encountering emerging artificial intelligence that can be both useful and confusing, especially in the workplace.

The upstate New York senior population is working to understand and accept AI and not be intimidated by it.

Longtime co-owner of Johnson Estate Winery, Jennifer Johnson, 72, has the ChatGPT app on her cell phone, thanks to her daughter for putting it there.

“And in the beginning, I didn't really use it at all. I don't rely on it a lot; I think I would say that I use it as an accessory," said Jennifer.

She has since learned to embrace it, creating food and wine pairing menus for special events.

"It's been a revelation. I think to understand how fast it is and what it can do," said Jennifer.

"It's useful around the edges," said Fred Johnson, co-owner of Johnson Estate Winery.

Jennifer's husband Fred has noticed an uptick in customers using internet searches from prospective visitors looking for AI to create stops along the wine trail.

"We are a ricochet beneficiary of artificial intelligence. It's not like it's going to run the plant, or do anything fancy; it's just a helpful, useful thing. It's just a useful tool, and you lean in to it, and you learn bits and use it for this and use it for that," said Fred.

"It's important not to make assumptions about older adults and technology," said Randy Hoak, commissioner of the Erie County Department for the Aging.

Erie County's Department for the Aging encourages older adults to use AI as an aide for everyday tasks, support decision-making, navigate systems and find resources.

As for the workplace, leaders advise that they operate within their company-approved AI tools.

"The folks that remain curious, embracing that opportunity, will certainly benefit from the efficiency that AI can bring to their work. Where I see, where it could put people at a disadvantage is to completely ignore AI," said Randy.

The office is offering an introductory course in AI through its University Express program for older adults.

Jacqueline Hovey, with Tech Know Lab at the Buffalo and Erie County Public Library, is teaching the class to help older adults understand what it is and what it isn't.

"It does impact you. So, if services like mine don't exist, how do these people get the information that they're looking for because ultimately they want to go somewhere where they can trust the information," said Jacqueline.

Even Fred is a little leery of writing memos.

"Because I don't quite trust it, but it is sure quick at giving me a draft. It takes pretty good dictation, so for an old guy that's pretty kind of simple stuff," said Fred.

Simple for Jennifer too, helping generate ideas.

"I do appreciate that some people say, 'No, I want my brain to work; I don't want to rely on somebody else's,’ and hopefully what we're doing is having our brain work and just use this as a tool," said Jennifer.

In addition to AI classes, the state office for the aging offers an AI care companion robot that is said to foster independence and provide support for older adults.