Over 45 Participants Share Valuable Insights
The engaging session started with an introduction to AI, followed by group discussions and a hands-on interaction with AI technology that was showcased by the Age-Friendly AI team.
Think-In participants shared their thoughts and perspectives on several key AI topics. These discussions focused on three stories of practical applications of AI in everyday life, building directly on the foundation laid by our co-creation workshops that took place earlier this year.
The first story was about the usage of AI in healthcare. The second story was about the trust in data and the usage of AI for personal shopping recommendations. The third story was about the spread of false information.
AI in Healthcare:
- Benefits: Participants mentioned the potential of AI to detect health conditions at an early stage, for example through monitoring heart rhythms. It can also support healthy habits, for example reminding you to do the exercises recommended by a doctor.
- Privacy: Concerns were expressed about the collection of personal health data and who has access to it. Data transparency was mentioned as being crucial to build trust.
- Human oversight: Participants stressed that AI should be used as a supportive tool instead of the final decision-maker. Participants felt it was Important that the final decision should lie with experts or the individual, instead of relying only on AI.
Trust in Data:
- Transparency: Participants felt that the terms and conditions for products and services are often too long and complicated, which often means users accept them without fully understanding them. There is a strong need for more clear terms and conditions.
- Personal accountability: It was mentioned that individuals must not rely fully on AI recommendations, especially when it comes to health recommendations.
- Double-checking: Participants feel it is essential that AI-generated recommendations and content are double-checked by an individual, who must always have the final decision.
Misinformation:
- Self-reflection: If a person shares fake content and they subsequently realise that the content was incorrect, this person then has a responsibility to ensure that those they shared the original content with are made aware of the mistake.
- Difficulty of containment: Participants feel the spread of false information is like a “pillowcase full of feathers”: once scattered, it is very difficult to gather them or contain.
- Source verification: Participants feel that it is crucial that the sources of online information are checked before sharing it with others to ensure that it is trustworthy
- Recommendation: Participants advised that, before sharing information, individuals should follow Media Literacy Ireland’s STOP, THINK, CHECK to verify the information.
Get Involved in the Next Think-In!
We are delighted to see the strong interest and enthusiastic contributions from everyone who attended. Your insights are essential for ensuring that the future of AI is truly age-friendly and beneficial for everyone. Have a look at our event page to sign up for our next Citizens’ Think-Ins!
We look forward to welcoming many more participants in our upcoming events!
