Why does nobody talk about how awkward AI helpers are with elderly users?

I visited my grandma in Phoenix last month and she tried using one of those voice AI assistants to set a timer. The thing kept asking her to repeat herself because of her accent and then suggested she "try speaking more clearly." She just laughed it off, but I felt really annoyed. The developers clearly never tested it with someone who has a slight lisp or slower speech. My grandma has been cooking for 60 years and doesn't need a gadget to tell her how long to boil eggs. But I think these tools could actually help older folks if they were designed better. Has anyone else watched a relative struggle with these voice assistants?

2 comments

2 Comments

hayden7209d agoMost Upvoted

Bet they never tested it on anyone over 75, right?

lily_ramirez49d ago

My mom is 78 and has been struggling with this new one going around. They really do just assume everyone under 60 is the only one who gets sick. It took her forever to even get her doctor to take her seriously because she's "older and it's expected." She's still coughing weeks later. Solidarity to anyone in that age group dealing with this.