Why older Americans don't trust AI with their health decisions

Most older adults don't trust health information generated by AI, according to a new University of Michigan study. The survey polled nearly 3,379 Americans aged 50 and older earlier this year. Three-quarters of those surveyed said they wouldn't trust health advice from AI.

Trust levels varied across demographic groups. Women, individuals with lower education or income levels, and those who had not visited a healthcare provider in the past year were less likely to trust AI-generated health information found online.

The poll also examined older adults' confidence in identifying accurate health information. One in five respondents reported little or no confidence in their ability to spot health misinformation. Conversely, one in three who looked up health information online found it easy to obtain reliable information.

Older adults with health issues or memory problems struggled more to find reliable health information on the web. Adults over the age of 65, Black Americans, and those with less education were less likely to use the internet for health facts.

The researchers emphasized how crucial it is for adults to understand health information to make informed decisions. They believe more work is needed to show older adults how AI-generated health information could actually benefit them.

The researchers think helping older adults see how AI health information can improve their well-being might ease their concerns.

More than half of those asked had searched for health information online in the past year, demonstrating how much older adults rely on the internet for health questions.

As AI becomes more prevalent in healthcare, we need to address older adults' trust issues so they don't miss out on new technology benefits.

The study shows we need better ways to provide health information to older adults, especially as more AI health tools emerge.

Healthcare providers and policymakers might need to reconsider how they help older adults understand health information and find it easily. Teaching older adults technology skills and how to identify reliable health information online could help them trust it more.