virtual friends than their human counterparts . Some develop strong friendships and even romantic relationships with their chatbot , foregoing efforts to make the same connections in real life .
Chatbots can also be used to improve healthcare access and outcomes for adults . By analyzing information provided by the patient and reviewing available data , a computer can form a hypothetical diagnosis and provide a confidence score . AI can also assist with physician billing , writing referrals , and other time-consuming chores .
While AI can offer many benefits to people of all ages , there are concerns about how it might impact the elderly population in particular . AI can be used to manipulate or take advantage of seniors , particularly those who may be experiencing cognitive decline or other physical or mental health issues .
In a brief period of time , chatbots have become extremely proficient at communicating with people . The worry is that some individuals might not be able to tell the difference between talking to a robot and talking to a real person .
A recent scam involves AI voice cloning , whereby an unsuspecting friend or relative can be convinced they are speaking with someone whose voice they know . This follows the typical “ grandparent scam ” pattern where the victim is convinced to send money to assist their son / grandchild / spouse who has been arrested , in an accident , or otherwise requires money ASAP . Cloning a voice requires only a few seconds of audio taken from any online media , and victims claim it can be extremely convincing .
While most chatbots are programmed with ethical limitations , unfortunately , some are not . There are bots that will provide information about designing malware and how to commit cyber attacks , knowledge that can lead to nefarious activity .
Despite these concerns , many experts believe that AI has the potential to significantly improve the quality of life for seniors . For example , AI-powered tools like chatbots can provide companionship for lonely seniors , while also monitoring their health and well-being .
As more and more seniors begin to embrace these technologies , it will be important for all of us to stay vigilant and aware of potential risks and concerns . We can develop AI systems that prioritize the safety and well-being of all people , regardless of age or other demographic factors .
While we ’ re a long way from having computers take over the world , if that ’ s even possible , we do need to be wary of some of the abilities being given to computers that interact with their less-learned human counterparts .
Jane Thrall considers herself moderately computer savvy in an ever-changing online world . She enjoys writing , playing golf , and the fast-paced game of pickleball .
Hey Siri Hey , settle Siri , an settle argument an argument : Over or under : ? How Over should or under you hang ? How your should toilet paper you ? hang your toilet paper ?
news & views AUTUMN 2023 | 39