Khoury News
Dean Mynatt in the news: AI to support a dignified retirement
Last month, Khoury Dean Beth Mynatt was featured in The Nikkei, the world's largest financial newspaper, in which she discussed the use of AI to meet the needs of aging populations. Read the English translation here.
The following is text of an interview with Khoury Dean Beth Mynatt by Satoshi Shimoda at The Nikkei, the world's largest financial newspaper, reprinted in English with permission. View the original article (free login required): AI to support a dignified retirement
Companies developing artificial intelligence (AI) and digital devices primarily target young adults in their 20s and often overlook the vast market and business opportunities among the elderly.
In Japan, where the elderly population is increasing, one in ten people is over 80 years old. China, South Korea, Europe, and the United States will eventually face similar aging societies. A significant number of these individuals will require usable digital technologies, including AI.
In an aging society, what is needed from technology is “dignified risk-taking.” Even with some risks, it is necessary to design systems that allow the elderly to continue engaging with society both cognitively and physically. By closely integrating AI and robotics, this becomes possible.
Researchers are currently developing models where AI agents autonomously perform tasks by placing AI, robots, and sensors throughout the home and collecting information. While humanoid robots are actively being researched and developed, their high cost makes them impractical for widespread elderly support. Instead of placing a single multifunctional robot, it is simpler and more cost-effective to have multiple AI and robots collaborate to support the daily lives of the elderly.
The needs of an aging society are diverse — from supplementing cognitive functions such as memory and judgment, to preventing social isolation and depression, to focusing on physical mobility. Building systems that can respond to various situations, distributed throughout the elderly person's home, is required.
In a sense, AI and robots may be more compatible with the elderly than with the general public. Even if elderly individuals with declining cognitive functions repeatedly ask the same question, AI can answer them as many times as needed. In the United States, crimes where scammers call and deceive the elderly out of money are problematic. However, if AI is always by the elderly person's side, it can advise, “Stay calm. Verify who is speaking.”
Furthermore, research is progressing to develop systems that recognize the elderly's behavioral patterns. For example, if an elderly person forgets that a meal has been heated in the microwave, the system can remind them. Additionally, if an elderly person has a habit of taking a walk every afternoon, AI can be aware of this in advance. By combining AI with robots that physically support the elderly's activities, high-level assistance becomes possible.
There is also potential to build networks with an elderly person’s family, neighbors, caregivers, and doctors. Large language models of AI can convey the elderly person's life and information to their family on their behalf. By utilizing AI, the scope of home medical care can be greatly expanded. The key is the mindset of how to increase what humans want to integrate technology into elder care. It is neither automation through AI and robots nor replacement of humans. Instead, what is needed is a system that looks at all ways to make life meaningful.
AI and robotics technologies are rapidly evolving, and the infrastructure to support an aging society seems to be technically in place. The next challenge will be to integrate technology into people's daily lives and consider how to make it function socially and commercially. Just as with religion and culture, responses to the elderly vary by society; developing technologies that can adapt to various human relationships will be necessary.
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