Older adults are being left out of AI safety education

A growing number of older adults use AI tools without realizing it, according to researchers at AARP and the Center for Deeply Human Leadership. Features like predictive text and virtual assistants often go unrecognized as AI, leaving seniors unaware of risks such as scams, misinformation, and deepfakes.

Pew Research found that 23% of adults 65 and older used AI chatbots in 2025, nearly double the share from the previous year, though still far below usage rates among younger adults. Experts say this gap exists mostly because AI safety education initiatives target students and workers, inadvertently excluding retirees and people without school-age children.

Researchers note that older adults are most interested in using AI for health-related tasks, such as simplifying medical information, suggesting a need for tailored outreach and education for this demographic.