The World Health Organization released a policy brief this past week aimed at combating age-related bias in health-related artificial intelligence tools. The brief, "Ageism in artificial intelligence for health," proposes a wide range of measures to ensure older people are effectively engaged in the processes, technologies and services affecting them. "The implicit and explicit biases of society, including around age, are often replicated in AI technologies," said Alana Officer, unit head of demographic change and healthy aging at the WHO. "To ensure that AI technologies play a beneficial role, ageism must be identified and eliminated from their design, development, use and evaluation," Officer continued. As the WHO brief notes, AI carries great potential for transforming healthcare, including on a population-wide level.

In a new policy brief, Ageism in artificial intelligence for health, the agency presents legal, non-legal and technical measures that can be used to minimize the risk of exacerbating or introducing ageism through AI. Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing many fields, including public health and medicine for older people. The technology can help predict health risks and events, enable drug development, support the personalization of care management, and much more. If left unchecked, AI technologies may perpetuate existing ageism in society and undermine the quality of health and social care that older people receive. The data used can be unrepresentative of older people or skewed by past ageist stereotypes, prejudice or discrimination.

 Geneva: Artificial intelligence (AI) technologies have the potential to improve older people’s health and well-being, but only if ageism is eliminated from their design, implementation, and use. A new policy brief, Ageism in artificial intelligence for health, released today by the World Health Organization (WHO) presents legal, non-legal and technical measures that can be used to minimize the risk of exacerbating or introducing ageism through these technologies.Artificial intelligence (AI) technologies are revolutionizing many fields including public health and medicine for older people where they can help predict health risks and events, enable drug development, support the personalization of care management, and much more.There are concerns, however, that, if left unchecked, AI technologies may perpetuate existing ageism in society and undermine the quality of health and social care that older people receive. The data used by AI can be unrepresentative of older people or skewed by past ageist stereotypes, prejudice or discrimination. Flawed assumptions of how older people wish to live or interact with technology in their daily lives can also limit the design and reach of these technologies, and the way AI technologies are used can reduce intergenerational contact or deepen existing barriers to digital access.“The implicit and explicit biases of society, including around age, are often replicated in AI technologies,” notes Alana Officer, Unit Head, Demographic Change and Healthy Ageing, WHO. “To ensure that AI technologies play a beneficial role, ageism must be identified and eliminated from their design, development, use and evaluation. This new policy brief shows how.”The following eight considerations could ensure that AI technologies for health address ageism and that older people are fully involved in the processes, systems, technologies and services that affect them.Participatory design of AI technologies by and with older peopleAge-diverse data science teamsAge-inclusive data collectionInvestments in digital infrastructure and digital literacy for older people and their health-care providers and caregiversRights of older people to consent and contestGovernance frameworks and regulations to empower and work with older peopleIncreased research to understand new uses of AI and how to avoid biasRobust ethics processes in the development and application of AIThe policy brief aligns with the messages of the Global report on ageism which serves as the basis for the Global Campaign to Combat Ageism. Produced by WHO in collaboration with OHCHR, UNDESA and UNFPA and launched in March 2021, the Global report on ageism notes that ageism is both highly prevalent and harmful but can be eliminated. As a first of its kind, the report describes the far-reaching impacts that ageism has on all aspects of health and well-being and on economies and signals a clear need to invest in three proven strategies: policy and law, educational activities, and intergenerational interventions. It also highlights the need to improve data and research on ageism and change the narrative around age and ageing to create #AWorld4AllAges. Download the new policy brief here.  

Artificial intelligence has been in the spotlight for its ability to discriminate and reflect prejudices against groups of people, be it on the grounds of race, religion, or gender. This, of course, is a result of the prejudices held by the people behind the AI - artificial intelligence is susceptible to the prejudices and discriminatory attitudes held by its creators. Ageism - or prejudice and discrimination on the basis of age - is included in the list as the elderly are continuously neglected in the field of AI, thus excluding their experiences and concerns. This was exactly the point of concern in a recent policy brief by the World Health Organization, which warned that ageism, when exhibited by AI, could have serious impacts on the health of the elderly. "Specifically for older people, ageism is associated with a shorter lifespan, poorer physical and mental health and decreased quality of life," WHO says, adding that it "can limit the quality and quantity of health care provided to older people."

The WHO policy brief Ageism in artificial intelligence for health examines the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in medicine and public health for older people, including the conditions in which AI can exacerbate or introduce new forms of ageism. The brief presents legal, non-legal and technical measures that can be used to minimize the risk of ageism in AI and maximize AI's benefits for older people as these technologies become more commonly used across the world.

We have accepted the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in complex processes -- from health care to our daily use of social media -- often without critical investigation, until it is too late. The use of AI is inescapable in our modern society, and it may perpetuate discrimination without its users being aware of any prejudice. When health-care providers rely on biased technology, there are real and harmful impacts. This became clear recently when a study showed that pulse oximeters -- which measure the amount of oxygen in the blood and have been an essential tool for clinical management of COVID-19 -- are less accurate on people with darker skin than lighter skin. The findings resulted in a sweeping racial bias review now underway, in an attempt to create international standards for testing medical devices.

We have accepted the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in complex processes--from health care to our daily use of social media--often without critical investigation, until it is too late. The use of AI is inescapable in our modern society, and it may perpetuate discrimination without its users being aware of any prejudice. When health-care providers rely on biased technology, there are real and harmful impacts. This became clear recently when a study showed that pulse oximeters--which measure the amount of oxygen in the blood and have been an essential tool for clinical management of COVID-19--are less accurate on people with darker skin than lighter skin. The findings resulted in a sweeping racial bias review now underway, in an attempt to create international standards for testing medical devices.

We have accepted the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in complex processes -- from health care to our daily use of social media -- often without critical investigation, until it is too late. The use of AI is inescapable in our modern society, and it may perpetuate discrimination without its users being aware of any prejudice. When health-care providers rely on biased technology, there are real and harmful impacts. This became clear recently when a study showed that pulse oximeters -- which measure the amount of oxygen in the blood and have been an essential tool for clinical management of COVID-19 -- are less accurate on people with darker skin than lighter skin. The findings resulted in a sweeping racial bias review now underway, in an attempt to create international standards for testing medical devices.

Artificial intelligence has been credited with eliminating biases that undermine diversity, equity and inclusion in talent acquisition. With concern over racial injustice since George Floyd's death in police custody driving DEI to new heights, it's easy to miss the scourge of ageism. The Economic Policy Institute estimates that an inability of nearly three-fourths of workers age 65 and older to telecommute during the pandemic placed them at a higher risk for developing severe illnesses from COVID-19. In addition, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics noted that long-term unemployment for working Americans 55 and older spiked to 26.4% from 14% last September vs. an increase to 18.2% from 11.3% outside that category. Experts note that so-called conversational AI can help ensure the safety of older talent as employees return to workplaces without ageism creeping into the equation post-pandemic.

I recently read an article about ageism, and how companies are struggling to effectively manage it. A short time later I read about Artificial Intelligence (AI), and how it will make Talent Acquisition (TA) more efficient. So, I started thinking…how will AI and ageism coexist? Bias is practiced every day by everyone, starting with personal preference for morning coffee and what goes in it, to our taste in cars (Tesla), to what to buy on Amazon, and more. We also have strong biases in technology preference: Mac or PC, iPhone or Galaxy, Samsung, or LG?