AI scams are flooding the internet, aged care must meet the moment – ‘Get online week’ is a critical resource for empowering seniors in a daunting new digital landscape

In the face of hugely powerful actors wanting AI to develop and abound without constraint it is ethically and existentially paramount that the aged care sector take a stance to safeguard its residents and processes from irreparable damage from tech advancement done without critical thought and guardrails. ‘Get online week‘ by the Good Things organisation is one such move to educate and uphold the best digital experience for Australia’s seniors.

The size of the players

The figures are gargantuan. Artificial intelligence is reported to have reached in the trillions of US dollars in investment alone. The developments and repercussions of AI software advancement has meteorically outstripped any efforts at official and organised regulation. Certainly Canberra has been slow on the uptake with the federal government seemingly content to commission repeated investigations into how the nation might approach the rapidly unfolding tech and its impacts. Seniors are being impacted now by the changing digital landscape. ‘Get online week’ is set to run October 20-26 and will facilitate hundreds of free educational opportunities for seniors and their families in this daunting new digital age.

AI impacts 

Waiting for government to act is not an option. Good Things Australia highlights that one in three Australians can’t tell what’s real or AI-generated, this is a significantly worrying statistic. Already reported, the problems and ramifications from fabricated information deceptively offered as news has real-world implications (seeing is no longer believing) of extreme severity.

Good News Australia, in the run up to Get Online Week, has shared that it is not only a concern of senior Australians, the worry surrounding deceptive conduct from AI use has gripped the nation at large. They share that close to half of the population are voicing that scams are becoming harder to spot, with one in four growing increasingly fearful of how AI and its development will impact them and their loved ones. Particularly for seniors who are having to react to this new technology very late in life, support is critical in navigating deceptive conduct online supercharged by AI.

Recent research from Roy Morgan points to Australians’ growing resistance to AI development and use. Their extensive research highlights that a growing proportion of Australians see AI to be bringing more problems than solutions. With threat to jobs a key concern in the research, the aged care sector must too grapple with potential seismic drops in tax revenue and implications for aged care funding. 

Worried loved ones

Particularly for loved ones of seniors, Good Things Australia shares that one in three Australians are, “worried about their loved one’s ability to identify scams, with over a third needing support from others when something goes wrong.”

That’s precisely where the ‘Get Online Week‘ intends to step in. Good Things Australia is welcoming people of all ages, especially seniors, to take part in as many of the hundreds of free community events come October 20-26 this year. The event is positioned at building digital skills in a safe and welcoming way.

Providers to leverage free resources

It is exceedingly worthwhile for provider leadership to consider ways in which the free offerings of Get Online Week may be brought into their retirement and RAC facilities, as well as opportunities to share the resource for those in home care.

Ethical and balanced advancement

While a key component of the week will focus on facilitating accessible education in learning practical digital skills, such as spotting scams, particularly those generated by AI, there will be opportunities to safely see how AI functions, and to gain insight into the technology both for the safeguarding of digital experience and seeing the safe and helpful uses of the technology.

Jess Wilson, CEO of Good Things Australia highlights a core concern about AI, that its development and advancement has been accelerating at pace, she acknowledges that this can feel overwhelming.

“Learning new digital skills doesn’t have to be daunting. Our research shows Australians are eager to give things a go – especially when it’s safe, fun and shared with others. Get Online Week is a chance to connect with your community, learn something new and leave feeling more confident.”

Meeting current needs – leaders at the forefront of shaping digital safety for seniors

Good Things Australia points to recent research that shows that, “Over a third (37%) of respondents claim they need support from friends or family members to navigate and resolve online issues.” This is the reality for many of the seniors within the aged care sector, whether in RAC, home care services or retirement living, there is a significant need for the sector to pivot to meeting this element of rights-based and dignity-centred care.

“The people who are most eager to engage with technology are often the ones held back by cost or confidence,” says Wilson.

“Get Online Week is about giving everyone the chance to take that first step – and showing them, it can be easy and enjoyable.”

It is worthwhile for providers to consider allocating resources to utilising the hundreds of free events nationwide during this week. For seniors, staying safe online and tackling the rapid change AI is bringing to the digital landscape must be a core policy for the aged care sector. Leaders must be at the forefront seeking to safeguard the most vulnerable in their care.