ROBOTS AS FRIENDS? A GERONTOLOGICAL EXPLORATION OF FILM, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, AND ETHICS

• Published in: Innovation in aging 2018-11, Vol.2 (suppl_1), p.52-52
• Main Authors: Kivnick, H Q, Demiris, G
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abstracts
• ISSN: 2399-5300; 2399-5300
• DOI: 10.1093/geroni/igy023.194

Technological advances introduce more and more elements of artificial intelligence (AI) into everyday life, across the life cycle. Such gradual introduction may have an unintended effect of minimizing meaningful social discourse about this topic in several ways. One, introducing these devices as simple extensions to a spectrum of “modern conveniences” or as “exciting technological advances” maximizes the extent to which users of all ages compete for early adoption and ignore potential ethical issues around AI. Second, incremental introduction of AI devices optimizes easy acceptance and adjustment – again ignoring consideration of ethical and social issues that surround this technology. Third, exploring current benefits and liabilities ignores the very long-term benefits and liabilities that accrue – recognized or not – over the life cycles of people affected by AI innovations. Illustrating with clips from relevant films including the widely available Marjorie Prime, this symposium explores ways that: 1) Film can both influence and reflect gerontological discourse and practice; 2) AI affects human-environment interaction; 3) AI potentially challenges some basic assumptions about individual psychosocial functioning and development; and 4) All of these issues require serious ethical consideration. The symposium will discuss these dimensions, reflect on their implications, and lead audience discussion of this timely, provocative topic.