Latest news with #NationalPollonHealthyAging
UPI
a day ago
- UPI
Older Americans are using AI -- study shows what they think of it
Of the older people surveyed, 55% responded that they had used some type of AI technology that they can speak to, like Amazon's Alexa voice assistant, Photo by Enio-ia/ Pixabay Artificial intelligence is a lively topic of conversation in schools and workplaces, which could lead you to believe that only younger people use it. However, older Americans are also using AI. This raises the questions of what they're doing with the technology and what they think of it. I'm a researcher who studies older age, disability and technology use. I partnered with the University of Michigan's National Poll on Healthy Aging to survey nearly 3,000 Americans over age 50. We asked them whether and how they use AI and what concerns they have about using it. Of the older people we surveyed, 55% responded that they had used some type of AI technology that they can speak to, like Amazon's Alexa voice assistant, or type to, like OpenAI's ChatGPT chatbot. Voice assistants were overwhelmingly more popular than text chatbots: Half reported using a voice assistant within the past year, compared to 1 in 4 who used a chatbot. Popular, among some Independent living continues to be a major goal of older Americans, as they either do not want to or are unable to afford to live in long-term care communities, and AI may be a tool to support this goal. Our findings show that older adults who use AI in their homes find it helpful for living independently and safely. They mostly used these technologies for entertainment or searching for information, but some of their responses show more creative uses, such as generating text, creating images or planning vacations. Nearly 1 in 3 older adults reported using AI-powered home security devices, including doorbells, outdoor cameras and alarm systems. Nearly all of those people - 96% - felt safer using them. While there has been some concern about privacy when using cameras indoors to monitor older people, cameras aimed outdoors seem to provide a sense of security for those who may be aging in their homes alone or without family nearby. Of the 35% of older adults who reported using AI-powered home security systems, 96% said they were beneficial. However, when we dove into which older adults are using AI, we saw that demographics matter. Specifically, those in better health, with more education and higher incomes were more likely to have used AI-powered voice assistants and home security devices in the past year. This pattern seems to follow adoption trends of other technologies, such as smartphones. Trusting AI is tricky As more information about AI's accuracy emerges, so do questions about whether people can trust it. Our survey results show that older Americans are split on whether to trust content that was generated by AI: 54% said they trust AI, and 46% said they do not. People who trusted AI more were more likely to have used some type of AI technology within the past year. Further, AI-generated content can sometimes look correct but be inaccurate. Being able to identify incorrect information from AI is important for assessing whether and how to use AI-generated search results or chatbots. However, only half of the older people surveyed were confident that they could identify whether content from AI was incorrect. More educated users were more likely to say they felt confident they could spot inaccuracies. Conversely, older adults who reported lower levels of physical and mental health were less likely to trust AI-generated content. What to do? Together, these findings repeat a common cycle of technology adoption that is pervasive even among younger demographics, where more educated and healthy people are among the first to adopt and be aware of newer technologies. This raises questions about how to best reach all older people about the benefits and risks of AI. How can older people who are not AI users get support for learning more so that they can make informed decisions about whether to use it? How can institutions develop better training and awareness tools so that older people who trust AI avoid trusting it too much or inappropriately using AI to make important decisions without understanding the risks? Our survey results highlight potential starting points for developing AI literacy tools for older adults. Nine in 10 older people wanted to know when information had been generated by AI. We are starting to see AI labels on search engine results, such as Google search's AI snippets. Michigan and other states have adopted policies for disclosing AI content in political ads, but these notices could be made more visible in other contexts, such as nonpolitical advertising and on social media. Further, nearly 80% of older people wanted to learn more about AI risks -- where might it go wrong and what to do about it. Policymakers can focus on enforcing AI notices that signal content was generated by AI, particularly at a critical time when the United States is considering revising its AI policies to do just the opposite -- removing language about risk, discrimination and misinformation -- based on a new executive order. Overall, our findings show that AI can support healthy aging. However, over trust and mistrust of AI could be addressed with better training tools and policies to make risks more visible. Robin Brewer is an associate professor of information at the University of Michigan. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. The views and opinions in this commentary are solely the views of the author.
Miami Herald
21-05-2025
- Health
- Miami Herald
Report: U.S. young men feel lonelier than other age groups
May 20 (UPI) -- About a fourth of younger men surveyed in the United States feel lonely, which is significantly higher than the national averages for all men and women. Gallup analyzed aggregated data from 2023 and 2024 to determine 25% of men between ages 15 and 34 reported feeling lonely the prior day when surveyed, the polling firm reported on Tuesday. The percentage is seven points higher than the 18% average for young women in the same age group and the national average, which also is 18%. Young men in the United States also are more likely to feel lonely than their counterparts in 38 of the higher-income democratic nations that are among the about 100 members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Only 15% of young men in the 28 higher-income OECD states said they felt lonely the prior day, which is a 10-point loneliness gap from young men in the United States. Turkey is the only nation cited that had a higher loneliness score, 29%, among young men, than those in the United States. Only U.S. women between ages 35 and 54 also cited a significantly higher loneliness score, 20%, than their OECD counterparts, 14%, for a six-point gap. Among such OECD states, only women age 55 and over, 19%, expressed loneliness at a higher rate than their U.S. counterparts, 17%. Two age groups reported no difference in loneliness scores, while two others reported 2% higher rates in the United States than in higher-income OECD nations. Young men in the United States also are more likely to experience stress and worry than the respective national averages for each, according to Gallup. A separate poll casts some doubt on the Gallup report. More than a third of U.S. citizens surveyed between ages 50 and 80 reported feeling lonely, according to the National Poll on Healthy Aging. Another poll showed middle-aged adults in the United States reported feeling lonelier than seniors. Copyright 2025 UPI News Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Report: U.S. young men feel lonelier than other age groups
May 20 (UPI) -- About a fourth of younger men surveyed in the United States feel lonely, which is significantly higher than the national averages for all men and women. Gallup analyzed aggregated data from 2023 and 2024 to determine 25% of men between ages 15 and 34 reported feeling lonely the prior day when surveyed, the polling firm reported on Tuesday. The percentage is seven points higher than the 18% average for young women in the same age group and the national average, which also is 18%. Young men in the United States also are more likely to feel lonely than their counterparts in 38 of the higher-income democratic nations that are among the about 100 members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Only 15% of young men in the 28 higher-income OECD states said they felt lonely the prior day, which is a 10-point loneliness gap from young men in the United States. Turkey is the only nation cited that had a higher loneliness score, 29%, among young men, than those in the United States. Only U.S. women between ages 35 and 54 also cited a significantly higher loneliness score, 20%, than their OECD counterparts, 14%, for a six-point gap. Among such OECD states, only women age 55 and over, 19%, expressed loneliness at a higher rate than their U.S. counterparts, 17%. Two age groups reported no difference in loneliness scores, while two others reported 2% higher rates in the United States than in higher-income OECD nations. Young men in the United States also are more likely to experience stress and worry than the respective national averages for each, according to Gallup. A separate poll casts some doubt on the Gallup report. More than a third of U.S. citizens surveyed between ages 50 and 80 reported feeling lonely, according to the National Poll on Healthy Aging. Another poll showed middle-aged adults in the United States reported feeling lonelier than seniors.
UPI
20-05-2025
- General
- UPI
Report: U.S. young men feel lonelier than other age groups
Younger men in the United States feel lonelier than people from other age groups and their counterparts in most high-income nations, Gallup reported on Tuesday. File Photo (2022) by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo May 20 (UPI) -- About a fourth of younger men surveyed in the United States feel lonely, which is significantly higher than the national averages for all men and women. Gallup analyzed aggregated data from 2023 and 2024 to determine 25% of men between ages 15 and 34 reported feeling lonely the prior day when surveyed, the polling firm reported on Tuesday. The percentage is seven points higher than the 18% average for young women in the same age group and the national average, which also is 18%. Young men in the United States also are more likely to feel lonely than their counterparts in 38 of the higher-income democratic nations that are among the about 100 members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Only 15% of young men in the 28 higher-income OECD states said they felt lonely the prior day, which is a 10-point loneliness gap from young men in the United States. Turkey is the only nation cited that had a higher loneliness score, 29%, among young men, than those in the United States. Only U.S. women between ages 35 and 54 also cited a significantly higher loneliness score, 20%, than their OECD counterparts, 14%, for a six-point gap. Among such OECD states, only women age 55 and over, 19%, expressed loneliness at a higher rate than their U.S. counterparts, 17%. Two age groups reported no difference in loneliness scores, while two others reported 2% higher rates in the United States than in higher-income OECD nations. Young men in the United States also are more likely to experience stress and worry than the respective national averages for each, according to Gallup. A separate poll casts some doubt on the Gallup report. More than a third of U.S. citizens surveyed between ages 50 and 80 reported feeling lonely, according to the National Poll on Healthy Aging. Another poll showed middle-aged adults in the United States reported feeling lonelier than seniors.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Americans 55 and up are the country's fastest-growing workforce — here's why so many are opting to work longer
Joan Madden-Ceballos didn't make headlines for volunteering or falling victim to a crime. Instead, she caught the attention of Boston 25 News for something that says a lot about about America today: at 70, she's still on the job. Madden-Ceballos is among the growing number of Americans 65 and older who are staying in the workforce into their golden years. Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 5 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Nervous about the stock market in 2025? Find out how you can access this $1B private real estate fund (with as little as $10) Working past the traditional retirement age of 65 isn't new — especially as life expectancy increases — but the number of Americans remaining on the job continues to rise, largely due to economic hardship. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that between 2003 and 2023, the number of people over 55 still in the workforce increased by nearly 74%. Today, more than 1 in 5 workers are 55 or older. For those 75 and older, the number has grown by a record 113%. People have a variety of reasons for working beyond retirement age, but some clear trends have emerged. One of the more positive reasons is that Americans are living longer — and healthier — than previous generations. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the average life expectancy for a 65-year-old has increased by just over a year since 2000, now nearing 84. Financial expert Suze Orman has even cautioned retirees-to-be to plan for living into their 90s. That means a retirement fund at 65 might need to last nearly a third of a person's lifetime — a long time to go without income. For many, work also provides purpose and mental stimulation. The 2024 University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Aging found that nearly half of older adults said their work 'gave them a sense of purpose and kept their brains sharp'. Nine in 10 said it helped their overall well-being. Nicole Maestas, a professor at Harvard Medical School, points to another factor: today's information economy. Jobs are less physically demanding than they were for previous generations, making it easier for older adults to stay employed. Still, it comes down to money for most people. That same University of Michigan poll found that nearly 78% of older workers said financial stability was the main reason they continued working. Others said they wanted to boost their savings or maintain access to health insurance. A 2024 AARP survey found that about 66% of adults over 50 don't feel they've saved enough to retire securely. According to a 2023 Gallup poll, only 2 in 5 workers are on track to retire comfortably. Read more: BlackRock CEO Larry Fink has an important message for the next wave of American retirees — here's how he says you can best weather the US retirement crisis One of the biggest changes facing today's retirees compared t their parents' generation: pensions are increasingly rare. As of 2020, more than 85 million Americans were enrolled in defined contribution plans like 401(k)s. By contrast, only 12 million were in traditional definition benefit pension programs. That makes it harder to replace working income after retirement. Researchers from the Georgetown Center for Retirement Initiatives found that today's retirees are spending their savings faster than previous generations. The culprits? Rising costs of living, high health care expenses and increased longevity. Inflation is also a major factor. Consumer Affairs reports that the consumer price index jumped 586% between 1973 and 2023. Combined with wage stagnation, and saving for retirement becomes even more difficult In 2024, the Government Accountability Office reported that a third of households with a worker 55 or older had no employer-sponsored retirement plan at all. Half of all households had no retirement savings whatsoever. Another looming concern is Social Security. It is projected to deplete its trust fund by 2034, at which point it would only be able to pay about 77% of scheduled benefits through incoming payroll taxes. 'Far too many people are one crisis away from economic insecurity," said Ramsey Alwin, president and chief executive of the National Council on Aging. A 2022 University of Massachusetts study supports that view, showing that half of single older adults and one in five couples struggle to meet their basic needs. The Pension Research Council at Wharton has suggested reforms to help both current and future retirees. A key issue is access: almost 57 million Americans don't have a workplace retirement savings plan. Workers of color and lower-income workers are disproportionately affected — over-represented in this group, with 53% of Blacks and 64% of Hispanics without access, compared to 42% of White workers. For low-income workers, those numbers jump to between 64 and 79%. Wharton researchers recommend expanding access to retirement plans, as well as improved portability of 401(k) and IRA plans, to encourage people to keep saving as they change careers. They also recommend government programs to match contributions for low-income workers, allowing for more equal access to retirement, letting America's golden years be ones of leisure and not full-time work. Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan 'works every single time' to kill debt, get rich in America — and that 'anyone' can do it Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead Robert Kiyosaki warns of a 'Greater Depression' coming to the US — with millions of Americans going poor. But he says these 2 'easy-money' assets will bring in 'great wealth'. How to get in now This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
