AI-ging with grace?
How does Artificial Intelligence perpetuate stereotypes around growing old

It’s no secret that the UK’s ageing population is growing – over 65’s currently makes up almost 20% of the population, according to ONS data.

So if our older population is growing, why isn’t our perception of ageing?

Realistic representations of ageing are needed in mainstream media; and the images generated through Artificial Intelligence do little to reverse archaic stereotypes of how older people look.

We asked MidJourney to generate an image of “a 85-year-old man” and “a 85-year-old woman” with the results showing stereotypical visual signs like deep wrinkles and greying hair reminiscent of later life.

When we asked the platform to show us what the same 85-year-old man and woman would look like 100 years from now, in the year 3023, the image showed few physical changes, despite the inevitable uplift in quality of life, care and technology we are seeing already start to evolve.

According to the NHS, one in 11 people over the age of 65 have dementia in the UK, with more than 55 million people living with the condition worldwide; it is an condition that impacts millions of people every day.

We turned to MidJourney to explore AI’s perception of dementia, with some of the typical symptoms including:

• Loss of memory
• Lack of mental sharpness
• Difficulty speaking and using words incorrectly
• Change in mood
• Difficulties doing usual daily activities
• Reduced mobility and daily movement

Often, people living with dementia can have an unkempt appearance as they begin to struggle to care for themselves. A vacant expression betrays some of the cognitive difficulties they may be experiencing, and the physical appearance of ageing can often be accelerated.

Frailty refers to a person’s mental health and lack of physical ability, particularly in relation to their ability to “bounce back” from accidents and injuries. Figures from Age UK show that 10% of people over 65 live with frailty, with the figure rising to between 25% and 50% for those aged 85 and over.

Frailty and becoming “frail” is a natural part of ageing that can often be misconstrued as a weakness among older people.

Through MidJourney’s perception of frailty, it shows an old, forlorn looking elderly who appears to be suffering. However, in modern day and with support from smart technologies and dedicated care plans, older people can do more to avoid frailty.

Episodic mobility refers to an older person’s ability to move around, with them often struggling to get around as they once did.

Nowadays, people experiencing issues with their mobility may use a walking aid such as a zimmer frame or walking stick or choose to use a wheelchair for longer journeys or days out.

However, when we consulted AI platform MidJourney to explore what a person with episodic mobility issues might look like, the image depicts an almost Dickensian figure shrouded in dark clothes with an old-fashioned walking stick.

93% of so-called “frail” individuals have mobility issues with the predominant form of disability among older people being mobility, according to a report by Age UK.

We have released a series of guides on how older people can support their physical wellbeing and mobility through eating well, moving more and investing in technology enabled care.

With Disney having brought fairytale characters such as Snow White and Cinderella to life on the silver screen since 1938, all of us have grown up loving these characters, but some of them would be old ladies by now, with Snow White actually turning 100 this year.

We asked MidJourney to show us what Ariel, Princess Jasmin, Belle, Cinderella, Snow White and Rapunzel would look like as old women.

Cinderella and Snow White are shown here.

The Simpsons first hit our screens back in 1989, but these older characters have remained cranky and unapproachable, despite the many advancements in care and quality of life over the past 24 years.

We asked MidJourney to show us what these different Simpsons characters would look like in “real life” to explore how the platform interprets some of the stereotypes associated with them.

AI-generated The Simpsons character Agnes Skinner is shown here.

“It’s great to use AI to imagine how things will look in the future, but within elderly care, the future is here now. Recent advancements in technology and care provision have meant that many older people are able to live better and more independently thanks to smart devices that make their life's easier and safer."

“From the images generated within this report, it is clear that the online resources used to generate AI imagery can be out-of-date and most of the time do not encompass the rapid and positive changes that have been made within elderly care."

“With the average UK life expectancy for a man sitting at 79 and 83 for women, older people are living longer and somewhat ageing slower."

“Through our work and with our range of resources and guidance, we want to encourage older people and their families to invest in Technology Enabled Care to support and enhance the ageing process, while also looking after their mental and physical wellbeing.”