AI gives golden opportunities to silver-haired seniors
Adapting to new technologies has ability to embolden and empower older adults
Meanwhile, assistive robotics are empowering seniors to reclaim their independence at home. In Chongqing, 70-year-old stroke survivor Zhang Li has regained mobility through a wearable exoskeleton robot purchased by his daughter.
Equipped with multisensory detectors and AI-driven motion analysis, the device predicts movement intent and delivers timely power assistance to the hips and knees.
"These robotic suits are becoming vital tools for seniors and patients recovering from neurological conditions," said Ge Chengjun, marketing director of a medical technology company in Chongqing. By enhancing motor control through real-time data processing, the technology has improved users' autonomy in daily activities.
China has led in the development of international standards for assistive robots, which were released by the International Electrotechnical Commission in March. The standards set benchmarks for health monitoring, emergency response and daily task support.
Researchers have also stressed the urgency of technological breakthroughs. Zhang Yunquan, a researcher at the Institute of Computing Technology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, emphasized that elderly care robotics hinges on breakthroughs in core technologies requiring robust scientific support.
"Bringing care robots into ordinary households remains a long journey," Zhang said. "But coordinated planning to synchronize technological breakthroughs with market readiness can't wait. It demands urgent action."
AI-enabled elderly care should be deeply integrated with home-based, community and institutional care models while embracing humanistic values, thereby achieving harmony between technological innovation and compassionate caregiving, said Wu Yushao, deputy director of the Fudan Institute on Ageing.
For 72-year-old Wang Fenlan, AI has already enriched her daily life. Whether checking the weather using voice commands, practicing tai chi with smart TV guidance, or consulting "little whale" for recipes, AI is there to assist. "Smart devices aren't just for the young anymore," she said with a smile.
