National AI Literacy Initiative for Older Adults
Year Awarded
2024
Amount
€323,991
- Organisation:Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin)
Project Summary
AI’s rapid advancement presents significant opportunities and challenges for older adults who, although likely to benefit from advances in AI, may also feel marginalised by these technological changes. This initiative leverages ADAPT’s #DiscussAI [23] national conversation on AI in Ireland, to foster a nationwide dialogue on AI with over 60,000 older adults over two years.
Adopting a co-creation approach, the initiative will engage 220 older adults in an in-depth multi-stakeholder dialogue to understand their requirements and concerns regarding AI. Through this participatory process, researchers, industry partners and policymakers will gain first-hand experience of these insights, facilitating a deeper understanding of older adults’ perspectives that will inform their future decisions. Opinions and ideas from an additional 5,000 older people will be captured via a freepost postcard campaign, online portal, and in-person events.
The co-creation process will also shape the design of accessible and inclusive AI literacy materials designed for older adults. Facilitated by ambassadors from the ADAPT and Insight research centres and supported by “age-friendly” organisations and public libraries, a roadshow will bring AI literacy training to 1,200 older adults in communities nationwide.
Through each stage of the initiative, a robust evidence base will be accumulated which will inform an Expert Report on the experiences of older people and AI in Ireland. This will ensure that the voices of older adults are adequately represented in policies, directives, and technological advancements within the digital society, bridging the digital divide for older adults and fostering an inclusive AI-driven future.