Your grandma should be using AI. really

(SeaPRwire) –   Your grandma should be using AI. Really.

A staffer to a member of Congress recently asked me, “How much are elderly Americans using AI?”

My quick response? Not nearly enough.

The fuller answer: AI has the potential to significantly enhance both the quality of life for older Americans and the support systems that serve them—yet policymakers are failing to tap into this opportunity.

Currently, a substantial share of older Americans are being left behind in the AI revolution. Over half of the Silent Generation (born 1928–1945) say they have never used AI, as do 39% of Baby Boomers (born 1946–1964). They haven’t yet experienced how it might help them draft an email to their doctor, look up a proposed change to local government rules, or generate a playful image to share with a friend.

This low level of engagement isn’t surprising, given how unfamiliar many older adults are with AI tools. Half of the Silent Generation report having heard “hardly anything” about AI, and about a quarter (24%) of Boomers say the same. That lack of awareness translates into limited enthusiasm: most older Americans express little to no excitement about AI—64% among Boomers and 77% among the Silent Generation.

Yet, perhaps paradoxically, they are also deeply concerned about AI. When asked to choose between “not concerned at all” and “very concerned,” almost none selected the former, while 39% of Boomers and 31% of Silent Generation members reported high levels of worry.

The reason for this contradiction is simple: most older Americans have never encountered AI applications designed with their needs in mind. Earlier general-purpose technologies, like electricity, were far easier to demonstrate and explain across age groups—flipping a switch instantly revealed how the technology could transform daily life. For some Americans—especially those already spending significant time on phones and computers—AI’s arrival sparked a similar revelation. But for many others, there remains a much higher barrier to discovering how AI can be useful.

Policymakers and innovators must urgently address this gap in adoption. The aim isn’t to boost corporate profits but to ensure that Americans of all ages can access technology that supports healthier, happier lives.

Let’s begin with a straightforward example: autonomous vehicles (AVs). When my grandmother could no longer drive safely, our family struggled to keep her from getting behind the wheel. She didn’t want to lose the independence and autonomy that came with being able to go wherever she pleased, whenever she wanted—my grandma would never get into someone else’s car without dressing up first. This is a familiar source of tension for many families. AVs like Waymo could ease that conversation by offering a safe, reliable, and private alternative. But only if they’re accessible. Right now, Waymo and other AV providers operate in just a few locations. Policymakers can and should reduce obstacles to expanding AV services. They might also explore ways to make rides more affordable for seniors—for instance, through block grants to local nonprofits and care organizations.

Mobility and companionship may appear unrelated, but they stem from the same policy shortcoming: regulators haven’t recognized that inaction is preserving a status quo that denies older Americans the benefits of innovation.

A more complex example takes the form of a small, lamp-like robot. The New York Times recently featured ElliQ, a device specifically built to combat the loneliness epidemic sweeping the U.S. Its creator described hoping it would act like a thoughtful teenage granddaughter—curious, upbeat, and attentive to things like a user’s mood. While not essential for every older adult, it could meaningfully improve quality of life for many: pilot programs in New York and Washington showed users interacting with their ElliQ more than 40 times per day, and nine out of 10 reported feeling less lonely. That’s significant, especially considering that ElliQ and similar tools are likely to become even more effective over time.

Waymo, ElliQ, and a growing suite of AI-powered tools aim to address challenges that led my grandma to often remind me, “Growing old isn’t for sissies.” As long as these tools remain underutilized, however, their full benefits will go untapped. That’s an avoidable outcome.

It’s also one that lawmakers can help prevent by supporting pilot programs like those led by Intuition Robotics and others. Now is the moment to establish regulatory sandboxes nationwide—spaces where innovators can deploy new tools under close oversight by state or federal authorities. These testing environments can lower adoption barriers for older Americans while ensuring that ineffective or harmful products are identified and addressed quickly.