Artificial intelligence and the challenge of social care in aging societies

Abstract

Increased life expectancy leading to an aging population who live well beyond traditional retirement age has created pressure on adult social care in many countries. The main concern has been rising costs, fiscal constraints, affordability and financing solutions intended to address a rapidly approaching future. With a few exceptions there has been relatively little consideration of the sociological transformations that new technologies might bring in and through social care. We seem set to increasingly depend on technology for our caring needs and in this essay I explore some of the potential roles that artificial intelligence (AI), robotics and such might play and the significant changes this might involve.