(Exp.12) WHY OLDER ADULTS AREN'T USING AI (AND WHY THAT IS ABOUT TO CHANGE)
82% of older adults aren't using AI, but 30-51% are interested. The barriers aren't lack of interest but legitimate concerns about trust, privacy, and complexity. This explains the gap between curiosity and usage, what's changing, and why age-appropriate guidance matters
If you're over 60 and haven't used AI yet, you're not alone. In fact, you're in the majority as 82% of older adults aren't using AI, according to recent surveys*, despite the fact that it's being talked about everywhere as if everyone's already on board.
But here's the interesting bit: a significant number of older adults are actually interested in AI (between 30-51% depending on which survey you look at), and 65% agree it could help them be more independent. So why the gap between interest and usage?
The barriers are real
The main reasons older adults aren't using AI aren't because of a lack of interest but about legitimate concerns that deserve to be taken seriously.
Trust and human connection
68% of older adults are concerned that AI may reduce human interactions, and that's not an irrational fear. We've already seen technology erode face-to-face contact in other areas, and many people (quite reasonably, in my humble opinion) don't want AI to replace the human relationships that matter to them.
There's also the issue of trust in the technology itself where 73% believe AI is advancing rapidly while ethical policies struggle to keep pace. When something's moving fast and the rules haven't caught up, being cautious makes sense.
Privacy concerns
Data privacy is the biggest barrier to tech adoption for one-third of older citizens. This isn't paranoia but a reasonable response to decades of tech companies mishandling personal information, and older adults have seen enough data breaches and privacy scandals to be rightly sceptical.
Perceived complexity
Many older adults see the learning curve as too steep, which is partly because most AI tools aren't designed with older users in mind. They assume a level of tech comfort that not everyone has, and the tutorials and help documentation often skip over basics that younger users take for granted.
But the interest is there
Despite these barriers, the data shows significant interest in AI among older adults, which suggests the problem isn't the technology itself but how it's being presented and explained.
51% of older people say the benefits of AI outweigh the potential risks, and another 30% are excited about the potential benefits. 65% agree that AI could help them be more independent, which is a powerful motivator for a demographic that values autonomy.
The gap between 18% current usage and 30-51% interest represents millions of people who are curious but haven't crossed the adoption barrier yet, not because they're incapable or uninterested but because they haven't found resources that address their specific concerns or that explain things in accessible language.
What's changing
Several things are starting to shift that will likely increase AI adoption among older adults over the next few years.
AI is getting easier to use where early AI tools required technical knowledge, but newer versions have simpler interfaces and more intuitive designs. ChatGPT's success came partly from making AI accessible through a simple chat interface rather than requiring API knowledge or programming skills.
More age-appropriate guidance is emerging. Research specifically recommends practical workshops where participants practice asking chatbots to rewrite scam emails, summarise medical documents, or generate questions for doctor consultations - real-world applications that matter to older adults rather than abstract demonstrations.
Finally, the use case is becoming clearer because when AI was just a novelty there was no real reason to learn it. Now that practical applications exist (summarising complex documents, drafting emails, explaining medical terminology), the motivation is stronger.
Why this site exists
This site was created specifically to address the gap between interest and usage by providing clear, jargon-free explanations that don't assume prior technical knowledge or patronise the reader.
The goal is to help you understand what AI is, what it can and can't do, and whether it's something you want to use. It is not trying to convince you that you should use it but to give you enough information to make an informed decision.
If you're in the 82% who haven't used AI yet, you're making a perfectly reasonable choice based on legitimate concerns. If you're in the 30-51% who are interested but haven't taken the leap, hopefully this site gives you what you need to try it safely and understand what you're getting into. (And if after reading all this you decide AI isn't for you, that's fine too!)
*Sources: