65-year-old Beijing resident, Wang Yunbo, wakes up to a personalized world shaped by artificial intelligence. From his TV suggesting his favorite channels to his smart band monitoring his health, AI has seamlessly integrated into his daily routine. “When I switch on the TV at home, a personalized list of my favorite channels appears on the screen. The smart band on my wrist displays my daily blood pressure levels and heart rates, reminding me to take my medication,” he says with satisfaction.
For Wang and nearly 300 million Chinese citizens aged 60 or above, AI technologies are simplifying and enriching lives in the digital age. Many seniors, who may lack constant companionship or struggle with electronic devices, are finding new independence and connection through smart technologies.
Official figures show that by the end of 2023, over 490,000 companies in China, both state-owned and private, were engaged in the elderly care business, focusing on smart health, health-centered tourism, financing, and anti-aging sectors.
Wang Haotian, a researcher at the Academy of Macroeconomic Research under the National Development and Reform Commission, notes that new technologies and business models have emerged in recent years to meet the more personalized, diversified, and quality-focused consumption demands of seniors.
According to the National Health Commission, China is expected to have over 400 million people aged 60 or above by 2033, approaching 500 million by around 2050, accounting for nearly 35% of the total population. About 90% of this population lives at home, 7% rely on community support, and the remainder rely on commercial institutions for daily care, making meeting the needs of those living at home a priority.
Feng Wenmeng, a researcher with the Development Research Center of the State Council, says that new smart and digital technologies have created more specialized, secure, and comfortable products for seniors. “Devices that monitor health conditions, shoes with positioning systems, and clothes with built-in sensors and inflatable airbags that deploy upon detecting a fall are among the innovations enhancing safety and convenience for the elderly,” he explains.
A Shanghai resident in her seventies, surnamed Liu, has developed a bond with her robot “nanny.” She converses with the robot daily and relies on its assistance for housework and health advice. “I almost can’t live without it now,” she says.
However, experts point out that AI technologies are currently applied primarily to basic elderly care services in China and are not yet effectively meeting diverse needs such as remote medical services, leaving significant room for development.
Last year, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, along with 16 other government departments, issued an action plan to further incorporate robots into various elderly care scenarios to enhance the intelligence level of these services.
Experts foresee deeper integration of AI technologies in the coming years, particularly in smart household products, wearable devices, and robots, utilizing 5G, big data, cloud computing, and other advanced techniques to achieve higher accuracy and better interaction between humans and robots.
The Bank of Shanghai, the largest agency for pension payment in the city, partnered with SenseTime, a leading AI software company, to develop lifelike AI employees offering voice services on its mobile app. This initiative followed feedback that many mobile banking users still had to visit branches due to technical difficulties. With this service, an 82-year-old user, surnamed Xu, found out his pension account balance on his phone by following the voice directions of the AI employees.
The International Telecommunication Union recently selected this case among the first batch of 40 “AI for Good” cases worldwide. SenseTime plans to further optimize the AI employees by enhancing their emotional responses and adjusting their images to be more compatible with different phone models.
However, as the elderly care industry rapidly grows along with increased AI presence, concerns have arisen. Some seniors find AI products too expensive and sometimes unreliable, while their families worry about privacy infringement and fraud targeting vulnerable groups.
Hu Zuquan, a researcher with the State Information Center, suggested that China could learn from the experience of countries like the Netherlands, Japan, and the United Kingdom in developing its silver economy with the help of AI.
Justine Coulson, the United Nations Population Fund representative to China, expressed hope that China’s exploration of the silver economy in the coming decade would serve as valuable examples for other emerging economies.
As China navigates the challenges and opportunities of an aging society, AI technologies are poised to play a pivotal role in enhancing the quality of life for its senior citizens.
Reference(s):
AI technologies open new prospects for elderly care in China
cgtn.com
