AI For Real

Category: AI Research

  • Older Adults Are More Open To AI Than Many Assume, Global EY Study Finds

    Older Adults Are More Open To AI Than Many Assume, Global EY Study Finds

    Older generations are embracing artificial intelligence (AI) more readily than common stereotypes suggest, according to new global research from EY, challenging assumptions that people aged 60 and above are resistant to emerging technologies.

    The report, conducted by EY Ripples in collaboration with Microsoft, Kite Insights, OATS and OpenAI, surveyed 2,515 adults aged 60 to 85 across 16 countries. It found that while many older adults remain cautious about AI, a significant number are already using the technology for learning, health-related information and everyday tasks — and most report positive experiences.

    Only 24% of respondents described themselves as “quite” or “very familiar” with AI. However, researchers noted that familiarity does not necessarily reflect actual use, as many older adults interact with AI-powered tools embedded in search engines, banking applications and customer service platforms without realizing it.

    Usage patterns also varied considerably. Around two in five respondents said they had either never used AI or had only experimented with it once or twice. Conversely, approximately one in five reported using AI frequently, highlighting a growing divide within older populations themselves.

    Employment status emerged as a key factor influencing adoption. Older adults still in the workforce were three times more likely to use AI than those who had retired. Researchers suggested that continued workplace exposure gives employed individuals greater opportunities to build confidence with the technology.

    The survey also identified a gender gap in AI adoption. Nearly one-third of women surveyed said they had never used AI tools, compared with one in five men. The report linked this disparity to broader patterns in technology access and participation, including women’s lower representation in science and technology fields.

    Among those who do use AI, learning emerged as the most common application, followed by health and travel assistance. Participants generally reported positive experiences when using AI for work, education and creative activities.

    The findings suggest that older adults are not rejecting AI outright. Instead, many are approaching it with a combination of curiosity, pragmatism and caution — seeking clear guidance on how to use the technology safely and effectively in their everyday lives.

    Click here to read the report.

  • AI Poses A “Hidden Threat” To Organizations: Report

    AI Poses A “Hidden Threat” To Organizations: Report

    In December 2025, I had written in one of my newsletters:

    ….the core question is whether delegating cognitive tasks to AI makes us more efficient or quietly atrophies the mental skills we stop exercising. Neuroimaging research shows that people who used an LLM to complete cognitive tasks showed measurably less brain activity in networks associated with deep processing and critical thinking than those who worked independently.

    Researchers who used AI to compile papers were often unable to recall key information from their own work — cited as a telling sign of cognitive disengagement. Artificial intelligence (AI) is widely promoted as a force multiplier for organizations, promising efficiency, speed, and data-driven insights. Yet, a new analysis warns that careless adoption of AI risks eroding the very human skills and organizational structures that underpin long-term competitiveness.

    Now, a new article in Harvard Business Review (HBR) raises almost the same concerns, but for organizations implementing AI.

    The Core Concern

    • AI’s fluency and confidence create an illusion of competence, encouraging employees to offload critical thinking to machines, says the HBR article.
    • Over-reliance on AI can hollow out tacit knowledge, judgment, and interpretive reasoning—capabilities essential for innovation, crisis response, and strategic planning.
    • Organizations risk becoming technologically advanced but competitively fragile if they fail to protect human expertise.

    Three Ways AI Erodes Capabilities

    1. People Stop Thinking
      • Employees defer to AI outputs instead of developing their own analyses or strategies.
      • Example: Creston Telecom (Australia) found managers presenting AI-generated scenarios without being able to defend choices.
      • Solution: Instituted AI-free strategy sessions and a six-month “strategy residency” to preserve judgment and systems thinking.
    2. Rules Get Buried in Systems
      • AI embeds subjective, moral decisions (e.g., credit approvals, promotions) into opaque algorithms.
      • This undermines deliberation, accountability, and adaptability.
      • Example: Piedmont Regional Bank (U.S.) noticed its Credit Committee leaning heavily on AI.
        • Response: Quarterly “credit standards roundtables” to debate evolving criteria.
        • Introduced apprenticeships pairing junior analysts with senior lenders, ensuring judgment and accountability remain human-driven.
    3. Social Ties Are Weakened
      • AI displaces collaborative problem-solving, reducing trust and shared purpose.
      • Example: Brightview Creative (U.K. advertising agency) saw clients leaving despite strong campaign metrics.
        • Clients felt they were dealing with a “vending machine” rather than creative partners.
        • Solution: Banned AI-generated content in client presentations, appointed strategic leads to articulate human judgment, and rebuilt client confidence.

    Key Takeaway

    AI can enhance organizational performance—but it cannot:

    • Develop expertise through lived experience
    • Take moral responsibility
    • Build trust, courage, or shared purpose

    The report says these remain irreducibly human functions. Leaders must ensure AI augments rather than replaces them, or risk losing the competitive edge that makes their organizations resilient.

    Source: HBR

    What’s your view on the above? Do comment.

  • AI Is Writing Your Code, But Is It Rewriting Your Brain?

    AI Is Writing Your Code, But Is It Rewriting Your Brain?

    In early 2026, researchers at Anthropic published new findings on a question that’s quietly reshaping computer science education: How does AI assistance affect human coding skill formation?

    For experienced developers and students just getting started, the answer matters more than ever.

    AI coding assistants can autocomplete functions, generate boilerplate, explain stack traces, and even architect small applications from a prompt. Used well, they feel like a senior engineer looking over your shoulder. But Anthropic’s research suggests the impact on skill development depends heavily on how these tools are used.