Aging Well in the Age of AI 

By: Dr. Sue Paul, Sr. Dir. Well-being & Brain Health, Asbury Communities, Inc. 

 Artificial intelligence may feel like a technology of the future, but it is already part of everyday life. It helps phones recognize voices, filters unwanted email, recommends driving routes and powers tools that can answer questions in seconds. 

As AI becomes more visible, however, it is also raising important questions. Can it help us remain independent as we age? Will it make health information easier to understand? How do we protect our privacy? And perhaps most importantly, how do we make sure technology continues to serve people rather than replacing the human relationships that matter? 

To explore these questions, I spoke with Amelia Hay, Vice President of Startup Programming and Investments for the AgeTech CollaborativeÔ from AARP. The AgeTech Collaborative brings together startups, enterprises, investors, and testbeds for startups to test and validate their products, all dedicated to make aging easier. 

Our conversation offered a reassuring perspective: aging well in the age of AI does not require becoming a technology expert. It begins with understanding where technology can solve a genuine problem and where the human touch remains essential. 

Older adults are already part of the technology revolution 

The stereotype that older adults are unwilling or unable to use technology is increasingly outdated. AARP research shows that smartphone ownership among adults age 50 and older has increased from 55 percent in 2016 to 90 percent in 2025. Use of artificial intelligence among this population also nearly doubled in one year, growing from 18 percent in 2024 to 30 percent in 2025. 

Older adults are using digital tools to communicate with family, access medical records, manage finances, navigate unfamiliar places, attend virtual appointments and stay physically and socially engaged. The opportunity is no longer simply to persuade older adults to use technology. It is to create technology that is useful, understandable and worthy of their trust. 

People generally do not adopt a product because it is innovative. They adopt it because it makes something easier, safer or more convenient. A device that requires complicated installation, frequent troubleshooting or multiple passwords may create more frustration than value, regardless of how advanced it is. 

The best AgeTech often works quietly in the background. It may provide medication reminders, simplify written information, identify unusual changes in movement or daily routines, reduce fall risk or help family caregivers coordinate responsibilities. Its success should be measured not by the sophistication of technology, but by whether it supports a better life. 

Independence should be the goal 

The greatest promise of AI may be its ability to extend independence. Technology can help people manage their homes, organize appointments, communicate with health professionals and recognize potential concerns earlier. Smart devices and sensors may be able to detect a fall or a significant change in routine. Wearable technology can help people understand patterns involving movement, sleep or other aspects of wellness. 

These tools can offer an added layer of support, but they also raise questions about privacy, dignity and personal choice. Feeling safe should not require feeling constantly watched. That is why older adults must be included in decisions about how these technologies are designed and used. A product may be technically impressive while still failing to meet the priorities of the person expected to live with it. The real question is not simply, “What can this technology do?” It is, “Does this help someone live the life they want?” 

Good design begins with listening 

The AgeTech Collaborative helps technology companies connect with organizations and consumers who can provide practical feedback. This testing process is particularly important because many products intended for older adults are still designed without enough input from older adults themselves. In fact, nearly 6 in 10 adults age 50 and older do not believe that today’s technology is designed with them in mind. Common barriers include privacy concerns, cost, difficult setup, limited support and uncertainty about whether a product offers enough value.  

Age-friendly technology is not simply a matter of making the print larger. It requires considering vision, hearing, dexterity, cognition, confidence, affordability and the wide range of abilities and experiences among older adults. It also means rejecting the idea that everyone over a certain age has the same needs. Some people want extensive digital support. Others prefer technology to play a limited role. Good design allows for both. 

At Asbury, residents have helped technology developers better understand how products function in real life. Their feedback can reveal problems that may not appear in a laboratory or product demonstration. A button may be difficult to locate. Instructions may use unfamiliar language. A device may solve a problem that residents do not consider important. 

Including older adults early in the design process produces better products, but it also sends an important message: older adults are not passive recipients of innovation. They are partners in shaping it. 

Trust must be earned 

AI can organize large amounts of information quickly, but it is not infallible. It can misunderstand a question, provide incomplete information or produce an answer that sounds confident even when it is incorrect.  This is especially important when AI is used for health-related questions. AARP research found that adults over 50 are already using AI to look up symptoms, medications and information discussed during medical appointments. At the same time, many remain uncomfortable sharing personal health information with an AI tool, citing concerns about privacy, security and accountability.  

AI may help someone prepare questions for a physician or translate complicated information into plainer language. It should not be treated as a substitute for qualified medical advice, particularly when symptoms are urgent or decisions carry significant consequences. 

Before sharing personal information with an AI platform, users should understand what information is being collected, how it may be stored and who may have access to it. They should also verify important answers through trusted sources. 

Caution does not mean rejecting technology. It means using it thoughtfully. 

Technology should strengthen human connection 

One of the greatest concerns surrounding AI is that it could gradually replace meaningful human interaction. Technology can certainly help people connect. Video calls can bring distant families together. Online communities can help people find others with shared interests. Translation and communication tools can reduce barriers for people with hearing, speech or language differences. But a digital interaction is not always an equal substitute for a relationship. 

A reminder app can encourage someone to take a walk, but it cannot walk beside them. A conversational tool can respond to loneliness, but it cannot fully replace friendship, belonging or the feeling of being known by another person. The most responsible vision for AgeTech is not one in which machines take over the work of caring. It is one in which technology handles certain tasks so that people have more time and capacity to care for one another. 

Focus on the life you want technology to support 

For older adults who are curious about AI, the best place to begin is not with a particular product. Begin with a need. 

Is there something you want to understand more clearly? A routine you would like to simplify? A way you would like to stay connected, active, safe or organized? 

Try tools that address a real priority and pay attention to whether they genuinely improve your daily life. Do not allow anyone to make you feel that you are falling behind because you choose not to use every new device or platform. 

AI will continue to change, but the fundamentals of aging well will remain remarkably familiar: maintaining purpose, movement, connection, curiosity and control over our own lives. Technology can support those goals. It should never be allowed to define them.