How might we increase digital confidence among seniors by empowering them through accessible and meaningful use of AI?
Around 66% of older adult above 65 years do not know much or don't know anything about AI.
In the US, only 16% of those 65 or over will try out new technology, compared to 40% of those under that age.
Through interviews, fly-onthe-wall observations, and workshops, we identified our opportunity.
With the collaboration of 10 seniors, we co-developed an initial concept that responded directly to their needs.
Based on feedback from seniors in New York City, we made several iterations to refine and improve the concept.
A Look at Today’s AI Tools for Older Adults
AI-integrated wearable vests and undergarments
Remote monitoring technology Chatbots and Caregivers Apps
Smart Home detection Devices
We reached out to 17 different senior centers to request space for observing and engaging with older adults.
We interviewed five caregivers, including both local and longdistance caregivers
We interviewed two case workers who work at senior centers.
We worked with 10 seniors to understand their daily challenges
“I commute over 1.5hrs once a week to be a part of this community center” ~Ritchie
Seniors usually ask for external help to understand tech
“I wanna know more about AI, how do I download it?” ~Joyce
Key Insights:
Seniors hesitate to troubleshoot tech issues independently, preferring external help.
Superficial understanding of AI lead many to confuse AI with apps
Seniors shown overall curiosity to learn more about AI
Build experiences that foster reliability, security, and confidence in every interaction.
Design that focuses on simplicity, ensuring seamless and intuitive user experiences.
Curate to bring positive “moments” that evokes joy during the experience.
Phase 1:
Internal concept exploration
We used a drawing board and visual facilitation tools to guide the ideation
As a team with diverse backgrounds, we were able to ensure a wide range of perspectives
Co-designing with 10 seniors
We developed a plan to determine the number of workshops needed to co-design with seniors
We designed four workshops: the first focused on understanding their daily challenges, the next two on ideation, and the final one on testing.
“My assistant is Blackie, my dog” ~Christina
Trust is build when the assistant feels personal, relatable and emotionally safe
Help them with daily tasks, such as identifying what’s wrong with a plant.
Identifying use cases and boundaries
Visual aids accompanying explanations helps them better understand and visualize information.
Looking in AI an assistant that feels like a member of the family and helps them be engage
Step-by-step instructions without skipping basics.
Discover new ways to deepen their hobbies: Learning how to document a garden through photos.
Transcript,Transcribe,Translate: Features that can capture conversations, or summarize information.
Issues related to phone,technology: Step-by-step guidance to help them understand any tech issues.
Medical and Legal help but with constraints: Basic support with health and legal queries, but always follow up by redirecting them to a qualified professionals.
The interfaces they are most familiar with are YouTube and WhatsApp
Is key to balance accessibility with trust
A custom GPT
Learnings from our final prototype:
A clear need for visual support supported by both voice and text integration
An unpredictable response style Navigating phone-related tasks are still not accurate
Today’s seniors are curious, capable, and active — but the way information is accessed and learned has changed dramatically.
The traditional "how-to" — paper manuals, in-person demonstrations — no longer fits the reality of a digital-first world.
An AI task oriented multimodal conversational assistant co-designed with seniors
Keeping them active & engage
Gives digital confidence Helps them with daily tasks
An AI task oriented multimodal conversational assistant co-designed with seniors
Helps them stay them active & engaged
Builds digital confidence Assists daily tasks & reminders
Personal Touch from the Start: Users begin by naming their assistant and selecting a voice and image, making the experience feel warm and familiar.
Step-by-Step Guidance: The onboarding flows in small, manageable steps — no long forms or tech jargon, just one simple choice at a time.
Simple, Visual Interface: Designed to look and feel familiar, with large buttons, clear prompts, and minimal clutter — so users can focus on their hobby, not the tech.
Context-Aware Support: Poppy listens and learns — offering guidance based on the user’s past questions and progress
Beyond Words: Suggestions are paired with helpful visuals — like photos, diagrams, or short videos — making it easier to understand and act with confidence.
Reassurance Over Alarm: Poppy offers calm, non-urgent language when responding to health concerns, designed to reduce panic, especially in moments of uncertainty.
Guidance, Not Diagnosis: Instead of pretending to have all the answers, Poppy gently redirects users to medical professionals when appropriate, reinforcing trust and responsibility.
Curated, Next-Step Actions: Users are given 2–3 easy-to-understand options (like watching a video or logging data), keeping choices clear and doable
Continuity Through History: A categorized history of questions creates a record users can refer back to or share with caregivers, making it easier to track patterns over time.
Thank you!