In an era where loneliness has been declared an epidemic by the U.S. Surgeon General, older adults face particular vulnerability to social isolation. While millions of younger people are finding connection through AI companions, we don't yet understand how this technology might benefit or impact our senior population.
In a study funded by the Retirement Research Foundation, we investigate whether AI companions could offer a way to combat loneliness among older adults. Through a comprehensive one-month study with 225 participants aged 65 and above, seek to understand how regular conversations with AI might influence seniors' social connections, emotional well-being, and feelings of loneliness.
Our research aims to:
- Evaluate how AI companions affect older adults' feelings of social connection
- Understand whether chatbots complement or compete with human relationships
- Develop evidence-based guidelines for designing AI companions that truly serve older adults' needs
- Identify best practices for introducing AI social support to senior communities
This work could pave the way for new, accessible solutions to senior loneliness while ensuring that emerging AI technologies are developed with older adults in mind.