Artificial intelligence (AI) has been around for decades, often working behind the scenes in everyday technologies. But it wasn’t until the rise of generative AI in 2022 that it became a mainstream buzzword, sparking widespread attention and conversation. Today, AI is part of daily dialogue, and adults 50-plus are engaging with it in ways both practical and personal.

This data story explores what they know about AI, how they’ve used it, and where they see both promise and risk. By combining measures of awareness, experience, attitudes, and a Jobs to Be Done (JTBD) analysis, the findings offer a clear picture of how adults 50-plus view AI today—and what they expect from it in the future.

AI Awareness Is High, But Few Feel Highly Knowledgeable

Awareness of AI among adults 50-plus is already widespread, though it decreases with age. Only a small minority (5%) say they have never heard of it. Most report limited knowledge: 28% say they know very little, 29% only a little, and 30% know some but not enough to teach others. Fewer than one in 10 (8%) feel highly knowledgeable and able to explain it in detail. These results point to a solid foundation of awareness—but also underscore the need to build greater confidence and understanding, especially among adults 70-plus.

When asked about specific applications, older adults are most familiar with the practical uses such as text-to-speech and voice recognition. Fewer recognize newer terms like generative AI, recommendation algorithms, or personalization technology. In short, AI is widely known but not yet deeply understood.

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AI is a good thing. It has a lot of potential to help everyone in the world, in the medical field, banking field, everything that requires information.

–Female, 50+

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I don’t know that much about AI, but I worry it’s going to make people dumber.

–Female, 50+

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AI is going to make everyone’s life much better and generally improve our society.

–Male, 50+

AI Use Is Fairly Common, But Expertise Is Rare Among Adults 50-plus

Eight in ten adults 50-plus report having used some form of AI, though most place themselves at the beginner or intermediate level. About four in 10 (42%) describe themselves as beginners and just over a quarter (28%) say they are intermediate users. Only a small minority identify as advanced (7%) or expert (1%). Nearly one in four (23%) say they have never used AI. This shows that exposure is fairly common, but depth of experience remains limited. Age differences are modest but telling—adults in their 50s are more likely to report intermediate or advanced use, while those 70+ are more likely to say they have never used AI.

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I use AI health applications and also use AI to help me decide what to buy: food, medicine, and medical procedures.

–Male, 50+

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I love using AI on Netflix to give me recommendations. I’ve also used ChatGPT to get book reading recommendations.

–Female, 50+

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I’ll never use AI. I think it’s a scam and just a way for the government to get our information.

–Male, 50+

Many Older Adults Are Open to AI, But Remain Cautious

Those first experiences also shape how people feel about AI overall. A large majority (80%) say technology has already made their daily lives more convenient and efficient, and nearly two-thirds (65%) believe AI could be a helpful tool in supporting daily activities and independence. Yet only about half (51%) believe the benefits outweigh the risks, and just 32% feel AI will create more opportunities across generations. This low level of agreement suggests that while some see AI’s promise, many remain uncertain about its broader impact.

When asked about technology more broadly, just over half (54%) say they feel confident in their ability to learn and adapt to new tools. Nearly half, however, lack that confidence—underscoring that comfort with technology is far from universal. Combined with strong privacy and safety concerns, this gap may pose a challenge for wider AI adoption.

Even with these reservations, curiosity about specific applications is strong. Older adults are most drawn to AI features that make everyday life safer, more efficient, and more accurate. Translation services (74%), home and public safety monitoring (71%), and learning or skill development (67%) top the list. Many also highlight fraud detection and financial planning (66%), along with health monitoring and smart home controls (63% each).

At the same time, interest drops for more human-like roles, such as emotional support (38%) and self-driving assistance (36%). This contrast reinforces the theme of pragmatic openness: older adults want AI where it can enhance independence and decision-making, but are less eager for it to replace roles traditionally filled by people.

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I use AI, but I’m not too excited about it. I’m afraid it will invade our privacy and share information with people we don’t want to have it.

–Male, 50+

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I’m conflicted about AI. It’s been useful and helpful at times, but I worry about errors that haven’t been discovered yet.

–Female, 50+

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Specific regulations are needed to determine how AI will be used, who is overseeing the data and how private information is shared with others.

–Male, 50+

Privacy, Safety, Loneliness, and Job Loss Fuel Unease About AI

Optimism about AI’s potential is tempered by strong concerns. Nearly three-quarters (73%) believe AI is advancing faster than ethical policies can keep pace, and about two-thirds (68%) worry that AI could reduce meaningful human interaction in important areas of life. Almost as many (64%) are concerned about its potential to replace human jobs. More than half (51%) believe AI is insecure or unsafe, and four in 10 (39%) say they do not trust it to deliver accurate information or perform tasks reliably.

Older adults’ concerns take many forms — from ethical and policy issues to fears about losing human connection and jobs, as well as doubts about AI’s everyday reliability. Addressing this full range will be critical for building trust.

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AI is scary to me, and I don’t trust it. It makes me very concerned about what this is going to do to our youth and our future.

–Female, 50+

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I am concerned about AI taking over people’s jobs and the security risks—having it hacked and using it for deep fakes and misinformation.

–Male, 50+

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I’m not happy about how AI is being shoved down everyone’s throat. It’s very dangerous and needs to be stopped.

–Male, 50+

Introducing the Jobs to Be Done Concept

To better understand how adults 50-plus view AI and what role it could play in the future, this study used a Jobs to Be Done (JTBD) framework. The idea is simple: people don’t just use products or services — they “hire” them to do a specific job in their lives. A common example: people don’t buy a hammer just to own a hammer, but because they need to drive a nail — to hang a picture or build a shelf. The “hired” product is the hammer, but you could also “hire” a shoe, or a brick, or your hand. The real “job to be done” is driving the nail not owning the hammer.

Jobs can be practical, like completing a task; emotional, like helping someone feel a certain way; or social, like shaping how others see them. Looking through this lens highlights the outcomes people are really seeking, rather than just the tools they use.

In this study, adults 50-plus were shown 40 different “jobs” that AI might help with. The jobs were created based on the potential roles that AI could have in one’s life. For each, they rated how important the job is, how well it’s currently being met, and how interested they would be in using AI to help with it. Simple text and visuals were used to make the jobs clear and keep participants engaged.

A composite score was then created for each job, weighted by 40% importance, 40% dissatisfaction with current solutions, and 20% willingness to adopt. These scores were used to rank jobs and identify where AI could deliver the most value for older adults. Additional detail is available in the study methodology.

Looking Ahead: Top Jobs for AI for Adults 50-plus

Building on this foundation, the JTBD analysis shows that seven of the 10 most important “jobs” involve managing health and wellness — from connecting with trusted support networks to simplifying complex health information. The highest-ranked job is customized health support networks — tools that connect people to resources, information, and communities who understand their health journey. Also among the top three are AI tools that filter relevant news and articles without digital clutter and simplify health information so it’s easier to manage wellness.

Beyond health, older adults want AI to make everyday life more manageable. They see value in tools that reduce frustrations with new technology, simplify financial management, and provide reminders and tips to support daily well-being. Budget-friendly travel also makes the top 10, showing that older adults view AI not only as a tool for essential needs, but as a way to enhance quality of life.

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I like to stay up-to-date on the latest news. AI could show me a summary of the news that is most important and relevant to me.

–Male, 50+

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I hope I’ll have a lovely little AI robot that will be my companion and monitor my health.

–Female, 50+

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AI might be able to pick the best investments for me so I can be ready for retirement.

–Female, 50+

Where AI Can Make the Biggest Impact

By plotting each job along an axis of importance and dissatisfaction with current solutions, two clear zones for innovation and investment emerge—areas where older adults believe AI can either solve unmet needs or enhance existing solutions.

Many of the most important needs — such as health support networks, financial tools, and technology guidance — already have solutions in place. Here, AI can add value by improving ease of use, personalization, and effectiveness.

At the same time, some critical needs remain unmet. Managing finances, health literacy, and personalized tech assistance are opportunity areas where AI could fill important gaps in support and accessibility. Across 40 jobs, 20 are in the opportunity or improvement zone for solutions.

Older adults are most receptive to AI solutions that have a direct impact on daily lives, such as managing money and time. They are also open to AI that can simplify, manage, and improve existing solutions in health, wealth, and lifestyle. Together, these two zones highlight where AI can deliver the greatest value to older adults — by filling important gaps in support while also making existing solutions simpler, smarter, and more accessible.

How Older Adults Want AI Delivered

The study shows that when it comes to AI, older adults are more interested in enhancing the technology they already use than adopting entirely new products or services. In other words, the preference is for AI to be built into existing tools and platforms, rather than offered as stand-alone solutions.

Cost is another major factor. Across the top jobs, most adults 50-plus say they would only use AI if it were free or covered by insurance. Willingness to pay directly for an AI solution is low, with generally fewer than one in five saying they would do so. This pattern is consistent across all top jobs — strong interest if the solution is covered, but far less willingness to pay out of pocket.

For many older adults, AI will need to feel seamlessly built into the technology they already use — and come at little to no extra cost — before it becomes part of daily life.

The AI Outlook

Adults 50-plus are approaching AI with both curiosity and caution. They recognize its potential to improve health, manage finances, and simplify daily life, but they also want it to be safe, trustworthy, and affordable. Acceptance will likely grow as AI becomes a natural extension of the tools people already use. In that role, it can offer real support for everyday needs while making familiar solutions simpler and more effective.

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I am excited about AI over the next five years. I think the horizon is limitless and I just can’t wait to see the true capabilities of AI being used.

–Male, 50+

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I see AI making things easier for me and helping me with everyday reminders — but especially for people that are forgetful or getting older.

–Female, 50+

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I don’t trust new technology. I truly believe AI can be used for nefarious purposes and I feel like it’s a spy tool that I don’t like having around me.

–Male, 50+