Bipartisan bill proposes $2 million federal study into AI’s effects on older adults

Understanding how artificial intelligence tools affect older adults is the goal behind a recently introduced bipartisan bill that calls for launching a $2 million federal research initiative.

The Aging with Artificial Intelligence Act of 2026 was introduced last week by US Senate Special Committee on Aging Chairman Rick Scott (R-FL) and committee member Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ), along with Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS). The legislation calls for federal research into how AI tools, including chatbots and voice assistants, affects older Americans.

“Artificial intelligence is growing at a rapid pace, and its use is already impacting every generation and every square inch of American life. Policymakers need to make sure that we’re keeping up,” Scott said in a statement. “Innovation unlocks new possibilities for seniors every single day, offering them more independence and preventing major health scares. At the same time, just like with younger Americans, they also need to be aware of the risks that always come with new technology.”

Specifically, the act would direct the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine to study how older adults are using AI-enabled systems in daily life, including for communication, companionship, cognitive engagement and daily activities. That study would examine the potential benefits of AI-enabled systems — including caregiver support, access to information and services, and aging in place — while also assessing risks, including scams and fraud, overreliance and psychological concerns, including whether AI systems reinforce harmful beliefs, delusions, paranoia or self-harm.

The National Academies would be required to involve a diverse panel of experts, including representatives from the National Institute on Aging, the National Institute of Mental Health, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the Federal Trade Commission, licensed medical professionals, researchers with expertise in aging and technology, fraud prevention experts, family caregivers, healthcare organizations and industry representatives.

The National Academies would be required to deliver a report to Congress within one year, sharing their findings and recommendations to the Senate Aging Committee; the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions; and the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. The bill would authorize up to $2 million to fund the study in fiscal years 2027 and 2028.

“Artificial intelligence has the potential to improve care, support caregivers and help more seniors age with dignity, especially in rural America,” Marshall said in a statement. “This bipartisan bill will give us a better understanding of how older Americans are using AI so we can maximize its benefits, address potential risks and ensure these technologies serve patients, not the other way around.”

The AARP supports the legislation, saying that older adults should benefit from AI innovation “without having to navigate its risks alone.”

A study on how older adults are using AI-enabled systems, along with their benefits and risks, “will help policymakers, researchers, industry, consumer advocates and caregivers better understand how AI can support independence, health and well-being, while ensuring appropriate safeguards, accountability and trust,” AARP Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Bill Sweeney said in a statement.

The National Council on Aging added that it believes it is critical to understand how AI affects older adults’ mental health, social connection, safety and care. “AI should strengthen — not replace — the human connection that helps all of us age well,” NCOA President and CEO Ramsey Alwin said in a statement.

Other supporters of the legislation include the American Psychological Association, the American Medical Association, the Mental Health AI Policy Project and the Alliance for Secure AI.

Click here to explore this article's original source for more.