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Digital Ageism: Challenges and Opportunities in Artificial Intelligence for Older Adults.

Accepted version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

Change log

Abstract

Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning are changing our world through their impact on sectors including health care, education, employment, finance, and law. AI systems are developed using data that reflect the implicit and explicit biases of society, and there are significant concerns about how the predictive models in AI systems amplify inequity, privilege, and power in society. The widespread applications of AI have led to mainstream discourse about how AI systems are perpetuating racism, sexism, and classism; yet, concerns about ageism have been largely absent in the AI bias literature. Given the globally aging population and proliferation of AI, there is a need to critically examine the presence of age-related bias in AI systems. This forum article discusses ageism in AI systems and introduces a conceptual model that outlines intersecting pathways of technology development that can produce and reinforce digital ageism in AI systems. We also describe the broader ethical and legal implications and considerations for future directions in digital ageism research to advance knowledge in the field and deepen our understanding of how ageism in AI is fostered by broader cycles of injustice.

Description

Keywords

Bias, Gerontology, Machine learning, Technology, Aged, Ageism, Artificial Intelligence, Delivery of Health Care, Humans, Machine Learning, Racism

Journal Title

Gerontologist

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

0016-9013
1758-5341

Volume Title

Publisher

Oxford University Press (OUP)
Sponsorship
Wellcome Trust (213660/Z/18/Z)
Leverhulme Trust (RC-2015-067)
Leverhulme Trust, through the Leverhulme Centre for the Future of Intelligence