Researchers from the University of Toronto and University of Cambridge are looking into the ways ageism – prejudice against individuals based on age – can be encoded into technologies such as artificial intelligence, which many of us now encounter daily. This age-related bias in AI, also referred to as "digital ageism," is explored in a new paper led by Charlene Chu, an affiliate scientist at the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute's KITE research arm, part of the University Health Network (UHN), and an assistant professor at the Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing. The paper was recently published in The Gerontologist, the leading journal of gerontology. "The COVID-19 pandemic has heightened our awareness of how dependent our society is on technology," says Chu says. "Huge numbers of older adults are turning to technology in their daily lives which has created a sense of urgency for researchers to try to understand digital ageism, and the risks and harms associated with AI biases."

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.