A new study published in JMIR Aging reveals significant friction between users and creators of artificial intelligence (AI) health tools for older adults, according to a report released on July 30. The research was conducted by teams from Johns Hopkins University, the University of Iowa, and Washington University in St. Louis.
Lead author Zhang Zhang, PhD, from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Washington University in St. Louis, along with senior author Nancy L. Schoenborn, MD, from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, led semistructured interviews with 49 stakeholders across six groups: older adults, care partners, clinicians, health system leaders, developers, and investors. The study found that while all groups agree cost, usability, and value are important factors in decision-making about AI tools for healthcare for older adults, their underlying priorities differ significantly.
The study reports that end users expressed frustration with receiving AI solutions that seemed like "solutions in search of a problem." They attributed this to developer incentives that prioritize adapting existing AI technologies rather than designing products tailored specifically to the needs of older adults. Developers and investors said long regulatory timelines—ranging from four to seven years—and high financial risks require them to seek large profit margins on products, ultimately increasing costs for consumers.
To address these issues and improve adoption rates among older adults and care providers, the authors suggest several strategies: early engagement among multiple stakeholders during development; targeted public education efforts aimed at demystifying AI for seniors; and establishing public-private partnerships such as the Johns Hopkins Artificial Intelligence and Technology Collaboratory (JHU-AITC) for Aging Research as ways to reduce risk during early-stage development.
The authors conclude that aligning decisional priorities across all stakeholder groups is essential if impactful AI health technologies are to be developed successfully for use by older adults.
