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The Print
13-05-2025
- Business
- The Print
AI has a bias against the elderly. It's bad for business
This could be attributed to a range of factors, such as blind spots within teams, or even AI training data that excludes older consumers. Businesses that proactively design for inclusion stand to win big, both in reach and in revenue. It is a key demographic across global markets, from China to the EU to the USA, and it is a growing segment in India. However, evidence shows that product companies tend to miss the silver generation as a key user base, and consequently, are often unable to meet their growing needs. The world is ageing, and with it, a vast consumer class is emerging. The silver generation, those aged 50 and over, already controls a major share of global spending, yet it is often excluded from product and service design. Also Read: India's next demographic dividend is silver generation. Singapore, Canada show how A greyed out market It is estimated that the silver generation's spending and business activity contributes to about 40 per cent of the US economy; this proportion is expected to grow as the country ages further. They are also estimated to hold close to half of household income in the US. Similarly, in the UK, older consumers account for nearly three-fourths of household spending. A report by the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), however, shows that this demographic is not viewed as a key consumer group by business. Businesses, if they tailor their products for the silver generation, could unlock immense value, and this is already being realised in some economies. For example, in China, there has been a boom in the 'silver economy', estimated to be worth $900 billion. The older generation both provides and consumes a host of services, from education and creative classes to home therapy and care, with firms recognising their disposable income and leisure as key drivers for growth. Part of the exclusion of older consumers may be inadvertent. As companies rely increasingly on AI-driven tools to personalise experiences and target potential customers, there is growing evidence that the underlying models themselves may reinforce certain biases. Crucial works like Data Feminism highlight that a group's visibility, and in turn their relevance, is shaped by what organisations deem valuable and measurable. Consequently, older consumers are often underrepresented in the data used to train these systems, whether it's purchase histories, user journeys, or engagement metrics. The silver generation may not be flagged as high-value targets or may not receive content catered to their needs. While these are not always deliberate exclusions, they are real. Over time, such exclusions reduce engagement and further remove the silver generation from the data pipeline that feeds future models. Also Read: India's silver economy is booming—app, startups, part-time 'daughters', dementia centres Inclusive design, better results Given that this demographic has both spending power and a willingness to engage if they are given products and platforms that recognise them, this exclusion is both a design failure and a missed business opportunity. An example close to home is WisdomCircle, a platform that connects retired professionals to opportunities. Back when it launched, retired female professionals comprised just about 8 per cent of the user base and around 10 per cent of all applicants. The product team conducted extensive user interviews to understand why. They found that women were looking for flexible, purpose-driven roles, which the platform did not clearly list out. The team redesigned the platform to meet these needs, including enriched job descriptions and a smoother signing up process to get less technologically savvy professionals onboard. The revamp had an unexpected bonus: it improved the experience for other users as well, leading to better engagement and uptake across the board. Within six months of these changes, retired female professionals accounted for 21 per cent of completed profiles and approximately 27 per cent of applicants. The key takeaway? Designing for inclusion benefits everyone—not just the intended group. Other industries and businesses have had similar experiences. For instance, Newslaundry, an online news outlet, responded to subscriber feedback that its website was not inclusive or accessible to differently abled demographics. It subsequently revamped its entire site to accommodate different needs and use cases. Users with visual impairments rely on screen reader software to navigate through apps, and the Newslaundry website became more compatible with these. Different colour themes were also offered, along with a Sync With System option, which synced the Newslaundry application's settings with the user's device settings. But the changes went beyond just catering to those with impairments. They also focused on making the product more accessible and easy to use, including voice search, transcripts and subtitles, and a reader-only mode to remove pop-ups. Since the roll out of these changes, more than 50,000 readers are reportedly using the app's accessibility features, with screen reader compatibility being the most used, followed by podcast transcriptions. There is now sufficient evidence that inclusive design is not just good practice, it is good business. Whether for older consumers, differently abled users, or other underserved groups, inclusive products expand reach and relevance. The silver generation, in particular, is a mainstream market in ageing societies—not a niche—with higher disposable income and growing digital engagement. Firms that actively address structural and algorithmic biases will be better positioned for long-term growth. As the examples above show, designing for inclusion improves trust, usability, and uptake across the board. Designing with the silver generation and other demographics in mind will be essential to business success. Vibhav Mariwala is Senior Policy Advisor and Joanna Sundharam is Head of Product at WisdomCircle. Views are personal. (Edited by Asavari Singh)
Epoch Times
12-05-2025
- Health
- Epoch Times
Why Affordable Care Act Is an Increasingly Bad Bargain for Young People
Commentary Acursory review of public sentiment portrays the Affordable Care Act (ACA) as a triumph of social policy, with nearly ACA and Medicare, by design, impose a disproportionate burden on younger generations. The ACA's risk-pooling mechanisms and individual mandate require younger, healthier individuals to subsidize older, high-risk populations, inflating premiums for those with limited financial resources. Medicare's payroll tax structure intensifies this inequity, extracting funds from young workers to sustain a program facing looming insolvency risks. According to the This intergenerational transfer prioritizes immediate social benefits over long-term fiscal sustainability, potentially jeopardizing future benefits for The Flawed Formation Pragmatic politics necessitates negotiation and maneuvering among competing interests, and the adoption of the ACA was no exception. Lobbying groups representing healthcare interests spent $263 million in the first half of 2009 to shape the legislation, according to Older generations wielded significant political influence during this Related Stories 5/8/2025 5/8/2025 The This disparity was a focal point during the ACA's formation, and younger generations bore the brunt of the outcome. Insurance lobbyists advocated for a 5:1 premium ratio between older (high-usage) and younger (low-usage) clients, reflecting actuarial costs. The American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) pushed for a 2:1 ratio to protect older enrollees, and the final compromise, set at 3:1 under Section 1201 of the ACA, capped older enrollees' premiums at three times those of younger ones. The younger generation lost the political battle. The established ratio deviates from fairness. A The ACA's Medicaid Mirage: A Numbers Game with Hidden Costs The ACA is often The KFF California, for example, is This is not financially sustainable. This Medicaid approach is doubly problematic for patients due to the program's structural deficiencies in delivering access to quality care. Medicaid's low reimbursement rates—averaging 70 percent of Medicare's, per Critics might argue that Medicaid expansion addresses unmet needs, and there is merit to some of those claims. But these gains are overshadowed by access barriers and fiscal unsustainability. Significant opportunity costs are left unmet. Our World in Data Intergenerational Inequity: The Fragile Fiscal Future of the ACA and Medicare The notion of a social contract suggests that generational taxation burdens balance over time, but a critical question persists: will promised benefits endure for future generations? This concern impacts both the ACA and Medicare, both of which impose significant costs on younger cohorts while ignoring solvency and long-term viability risks. Medicare beneficiaries often receive benefits far exceeding their contributions, creating a fiscal imbalance. The The ACA's fiscal framework similarly relies on subsidies and taxes under pressure. The Without tax subsidies, the average family of four would pay Younger generations, taxed heavily today, may inherit a hollowed-out system unable to deliver care. Without reforms, this trajectory betrays the cohort sustaining it, raising profound concerns about distributive justice. The ACA's ambition was not its downfall; its disregard for economic principles will be. Subsidies without supply-side reforms (e.g., From the Views expressed in this article are opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
6 Ways Becoming an AARP Member Can Save Retirees Thousands in 2025
The arrival of the first AARP (American Association of Retired Persons) card invitation is almost a rite of passage in American society. While it may signal you have become a person of a certain age, you can actually join the association as young as 18, though some benefits don't kick in until you're older. Check Out: Read Next: For retirees, who are often living on a reduced income, the benefits of an AARP membership can be significant. Here are just a few of the ways you can use this membership to save thousands over time. According to Melanie Musson, a finance expert with 'The most valuable benefits are for essentials that retirees have to spend money on every month.' For example, if you still need to carry car insurance, AARP can help you pay lower rates and get discounts on car insurance. The average person can save around $577 per year on car insurance alone. 'The savings on insurance, phone service and groceries exceed the cost of membership,' Musson said. Find Out: AARP offers a variety of insurance types, from supplemental vision and dental insurance to supplemental Medicare health insurance plans offered through United HealthCare. Taking advantage of these insurance supplements can make sure you don't find yourself with pricey out-of-pocket expenses or long-term care when you really need it. Members also gain access to a variety of discounts and coupons on products, brands and services. For example, the website currently features a 20% off coupon for two pairs of Dr. Scholl's brand shoes and 15% off Goodyear brand tires. You can search by your ZIP code to get personalized discounts that meet your needs in local stores and businesses. Don't even think about booking travel without an AARP membership if you can help it — the website is full of offers with such deals as 35% off rental cars, hundreds of dollars off airfare and cruise packages. Not only do these various discounts mean your retirement funds can last longer, that means you can benefit from the continued earnings and compound interest as they grow over time, making what you have saved last longer, Musson pointed out. Retirement may seem like a simpler time in some ways because most people are no longer working, however, retirees may still find themselves needing financial advice. The most important consideration, Musson said, is that 'AARP specializes in senior citizens, and it has partnerships with banks and financial institutions that can directly advise seniors in a fiduciary capacity.' Additionally, AARP offers several workshops, like Foundation Finances 50+ and Money Matters. If two of you are retired, you can have one membership that gives benefits to you and a secondary member, such as a spouse. Musson recommended that you ask other friends and family members who have used benefits what has been most beneficial to them. Additionally, read through the benefits AARP offers and see which ones apply to your lifestyle. More From GOBankingRates 6 Used Luxury SUVs That Are a Good Investment for RetireesThese 10 Used Cars Will Last Longer Than an Average New Vehicle7 Overpriced Grocery Items Frugal People Should Quit Buying in 20254 Affordable Car Brands You Won't Regret Buying in 2025 This article originally appeared on 6 Ways Becoming an AARP Member Can Save Retirees Thousands in 2025
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Daylight Saving Time starts soon — are you ready to ‘lose' an hour of sleep?
SALT LAKE CITY () — Daylight Saving Time is just around the corner but it's not too early to start thinking about how you can ease into 'losing' an hour of sleep. That's right, at 2 a.m. on Sunday, March 9, we will 'spring forward' an hour to 3 a.m., meaning we will effectively lose an hour that night. According to the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), unless you ease into a new sleep schedule, the sudden time change can , lowered mood and increased irritation. UDOT: New construction could disrupt your travel in Salt Lake, Utah counties The good news, the earlier you start adjusting your sleep schedule, the easier the time change will be. The , a group of medical advisors and product testers dedicated to sleep health, suggests starting to in the week leading to the time change. In the days leading up to the time change, try going to bed 15 to 20 minutes earlier each day. 'The timing of other daily activities, such as meals and exercise, can also be gradually adjusted forward,' the Sleep Foundation said. 'By making these small changes in advance, you begin daylight saving time having already started to acclimate to the new time on the clock.' Other recommendations include relaxation techniques such as deep breathing and meditation, building a 'sleep bank' with extra sleep and establishing good sleep habits before bed like going 'device-free' for at least 30 minutes before bed. The United States has been changing the clocks on the current cycle since the , as a means to add daylight to parts of the day where it's needed during the summer and winter months. The U.S. briefly , The Hill reports, when President Richard Nixon signed a bill for permanent Daylight Saving Time. According to The Hill, parents quickly lost interest when children were sent to schools in the dark as the sun wouldn't rise until after 8 a.m. in some parts of the country. Over 1K Utah vanity plates were denied in 2024 — Here's why Less than a year later, President Gerald Ford signed a bill that reintroduced standard time in the winter months. Since then, there have been several attempts to remove the time change at both the state and federal levels. Currently, under the Uniform Time Act, states can adhere to standard time without observing Daylight Saving Time, though only Arizona and Hawaii have opted to make that change. The law, however, does not allow for states to observe only Daylight Saving Time. Utah considered joining Arizona and Hawaii during the 2025 Legislative Session, with a bill that passed through the state's House of Representatives with majority approval. However, the bill died just two weeks later when of the Senate Business and Labor Committee. In 2020, the Beehive State passed a bill that would allow Utah to be put on permanent Daylight Saving Time as soon as four western states pass to make a similar change and federal law allows it. More than four states have since committed to permanent Daylight Saving Time, meaning Utah is just waiting on federal approval. President Donald Trump that his administration would use 'its best efforts' to eliminate Daylight Saving Time. On Truth Social, Trump called Daylight Saving Time 'inconvenient' and 'very costly to our Nation.' Trump would need approval from Congress to eliminate Daylight Saving Time but has not set a date on when those efforts would move forward. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
29-01-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Milwaukee becomes the first AARP 'Age-Friendly" county in Wisconsin
Milwaukee County has joined the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) network of "Age-Friendly Communities" throughout the U.S., making it the first county in Wisconsin to receive the designation. The AARP's initiative allows member communities to "become better for citizens of all ages," by adopting new features as part of an existing framework, according to a Jan. 21 press release. The nonprofit uses its "8 Domains of Livability" for those in the network, consisting of: Outdoor spaces and buildings Transportation Housing Social participation Respect and social inclusion Work and civic engagement Communication and information Community and health services Amber Miller, senior associate state director of community outreach for AARP Wisconsin, said in the press release the organization's research shows "80 percent of older adults want to stay where they are as they age." "Milwaukee County is at the forefront of making sure communities are not only great places to grow up and work but are also thriving areas for older adults," Miller said. County leaders accepted the designation at Washington Park Senior Center Thursday, Jan. 23. Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley told the Journal Sentinel in an email Jan. 24 the countywide initiative is initially being led by the Department of Health and Human Services, Milwaukee County Parks and Milwaukee County Department of Transportation. "We are in the process of forming an advisory committee that will guide us in developing a plan to address AARP's domains of a livable community," Crowley said. "We will continue to work closely with AARP and anticipate making tremendous progress in the first five years, but are hopeful the benefits will extend far beyond that timeframe." The AARP's network is also part of a broader global effort. It's an affiliate of the World Health Organization's Age-Friendly Cities and Communities Program, which was launched in 2006 "to help cities prepare for rapid population aging and the parallel trend of urbanization," according to the press release. More than 20 nations are currently involved. To learn more about the AARP's "Age-Friendly Communities," click here. While Milwaukee County is the first county in Wisconsin to received the designation, 13 municipalities across the state are already involved, including: Appleton Greendale La Crosse Madison Oshkosh Reedsburg Sheboygan Shorewood Stevens Point Wausau Wauwatosa West Allis West Bend More: These Wisconsin cities ranked among the 'best' places to retire, according to WalletHub More: Milwaukee County's low-income seniors may struggle to afford fresh produce. But this program is a big help. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: AARP designates Milwaukee County as an 'Age-Friendly Community'
