Techno-Solutionism and Age Discourse in the AI Industry

Abstract

In recent years, the AI industry has shown growing interest in addressing challenges associated with ageing. A wide range of devices and digital artefacts have been developed to support the health needs of older adults, enhance their mobility, and improve the conditions of older workers. However, discourse on ageing in the broader tech industry—and, by extension, in AI—often adopts a paternalistic stance and relies on harmful tropes about older users. In this paper, we analyse corporate communications in the AI industry about ageing, on the premise that discourse shapes how technologies are designed. The analysis was conducted between January and July 2024, focusing on global companies that develop AI technologies for healthcare, mobility, and recruitment relevant in the European context. We found that dominant narratives about older people legitimise techno-solutionism. By framing older adults as a societal burden and overlooking their well-being, these narratives make technological “fixes” appear socially acceptable even when they offer insufficient support.