⚡ Quick Summary
A recent study explored university students’ perspectives on the deployment of an AI-enabled service robot, named Aether, in long-term care (LTC) settings. The findings highlight the potential of AI to enhance social connections among older adults while addressing the challenges faced by LTC staff.
🔍 Key Details
- 👥 Participants: 22 university students
- 🤖 AI Robot: Aether
- 🏥 Focus Area: Long-term care (LTC) environments
- 📊 Methodology: Qualitative study with thematic analysis
🔑 Key Takeaways
- 🤝 Companionship Support: Students see Aether as a means to provide companionship to older adults.
- 🛠️ Staff Support: Aether could complement the work of overburdened LTC staff.
- ⚠️ Challenges Identified: Technical and emotional challenges in using AI robots were highlighted.
- 🔧 Future Solutions: Students suggested expanding functionalities and integrating personalization features.
- 🌱 Positive Outlook: Overall, students expressed optimism about the role of AI in enhancing quality of life.
- ⚖️ Ethical Considerations: The necessity of addressing ethical and practical considerations was emphasized.
- 📚 Curriculum Development: There is a need to incorporate AI technology into gerontology education.
📚 Background
The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in gerontology education is becoming increasingly important, particularly in addressing issues such as loneliness among older adults in long-term care facilities. As the workforce in LTC often faces significant challenges, AI-enabled service robots like Aether offer promising solutions to enhance the quality of life for residents.
🗒️ Study
This qualitative study aimed to capture the perspectives of university students regarding the deployment of Aether in LTC environments. Through focus groups with 22 participants, the researchers conducted a thematic analysis to identify key themes related to the anticipated usage, challenges, and future possibilities of AI robots in geriatric care.
📈 Results
The thematic analysis revealed three primary themes:
(1) Aether’s anticipated usage in providing companionship and supporting staff,
(2) Challenges related to technical and emotional aspects, and
(3) Solutions for expanding functionalities and personalization.
Students expressed a generally positive outlook on the integration of AI robots in LTC, while also recognizing the importance of addressing ethical considerations.
🌍 Impact and Implications
The insights gained from this study could significantly influence the future of AI in long-term care. By understanding student perspectives, educational institutions can better prepare future professionals to integrate AI technologies effectively. This could lead to improved social connections for older adults and enhanced support for LTC staff, ultimately transforming the landscape of geriatric care.
🔮 Conclusion
This study underscores the potential of AI-enabled service robots like Aether to enhance the quality of life for older adults in long-term care settings. By incorporating student perspectives into gerontology education, we can pave the way for a more effective integration of AI technologies in the field. The future of geriatric care looks promising with the continued exploration of AI’s capabilities!
💬 Your comments
What are your thoughts on the integration of AI in long-term care? We would love to hear your opinions! 💬 Share your insights in the comments below or connect with us on social media:
Students perspectives on the development and deployment of an AI-enabled service robot in long-term care.
Abstract
The need for Artificial Intelligence (AI) in gerontology education is underscored by the potential benefits it offers in addressing loneliness and supporting social connection among older adults in long-term care (LTC) homes. While the workforce in LTC is often overburdened, AI-enabled service robots present possible solutions to enhance residents’ quality of life. However, the incorporation of AI and service robots in current gerontology curricula is lacking, and the views of students on this subject remain largely unexamined. This study aims to fill this gap by capturing the perspectives of university students regarding the deployment of an AI robot, Aether, in LTC environments. In this qualitative study, we conducted focus groups with 22 university students. Our thematic analysis identified three themes: (1) Aether’s anticipated usage in geriatric care: companionship support and complementing the work of staff; (2) Challenges in using Aether: technical and emotional challenges; and (3) Solutions and future possibilities: expanding functionalities and integrating personalization features. Students expressed a positive outlook on the role of AI-enabled robots while also highlighting the necessity of addressing ethical and practical considerations. To effectively integrate AI technology in gerontology education, it is essential to understand and incorporate student perspectives, attitudes, and opinions.
Author: [‘Hung L’, ‘Abdulai AF’, ‘Soni A’, ‘Wong KLY’, ‘Ren LH’, ‘Xia R’, ‘Davies K’]
Journal: J Rehabil Assist Technol Eng
Citation: Hung L, et al. Students perspectives on the development and deployment of an AI-enabled service robot in long-term care. Students perspectives on the development and deployment of an AI-enabled service robot in long-term care. 2025; 12:20556683251313773. doi: 10.1177/20556683251313773