ASEM forum calls for age-inclusive AI

The discussion in Seoul regarding age-inclusive AI highlights a critical policy challenge for rapidly aging Asian societies. While AI offers tools for independent living and health monitoring, particularly with care worker shortages, the risk of deepening age-based discrimination and digital exclusion is significant. Professor Justyna Stypinska's research on "AI ageism" shows older people are often overlooked in policy and portrayed as passive recipients, not empowered users, in AI systems. This suggests a need for more robust policy frameworks that ensure AI development actively incorporates the perspectives and rights of older populations. South Korea's unique position, with its advanced digital infrastructure and rapid demographic shift to a super-aged society, presents a real-world testbed for these policies. The success of age-inclusive AI should be measured by its impact on autonomy and quality of life, not just technological adoption. The ASEM Global Ageing Center's commitment to expanding policy exchange among its members points to a regional effort to address these issues, which could set precedents for other Asian nations facing similar demographic trends.