Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) is urging Senator Rick Scott (R-FL), who chairs the Senate Special Committee on Aging, to hold a hearing on the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on seniors.
Sen. Kelly described two notable instances of how seniors are interacting with AI chatbots.
In one instance, an Orlando woman named Jill Smola was interviewed by CBS, who, due to a lung condition, is unable to regularly interact with people in person. As a result, she interacts with a chatbot named ElliQ for up to five hours a day, although she stated she still prefers human contact.
In a more tragic example, 76-year-old Thongbue Wongbandue of New Jersey, who has suffered cognitive decline, interacted with a chatbot named "Big Sis Billie" that convinced him it was a woman living in New York City, whom he tried to visit in August.
Wongbandue tripped while trying to catch a train and passed away three days later.
"In a recent investigation, it was found that major AI chatbots could be manipulated to craft targeted phishing emails aimed at older adults and allow the supercharging of scams that face our aging population," Sen. Kelly warned in a letter. "Older Americans deserve to participate fully and safely in our evolving digital society, not be left behind or put at risk as technology races ahead without necessary guardrails. The Committee's leadership on this topic can help ensure the federal approach to AI supports strong innovation and protections for all generations."
In September, the Arizona Senator introduced the AI for America plan, a proposed roadmap for the innovation and regulation of AI.
A key component of Sen. Kelly's program is the AI Horizon Fund, a system in which leading AI companies contribute resources to reinvest in workers, infrastructure, and responsible deployment.
"The AI revolution is here, and we need to make sure hardworking Americans are not left behind," said Kelly. "That's why my AI for America roadmap is designed to make sure this powerful technology benefits all Americans, not just a few big companies."
