AI and Older Adults: Experience, Creativity, Work and Caregiving
Can AI help older adults turn decades of experience into a new advantage? And how is artificial intelligence changing the way we support older adults who need care?
In this Rethinking Aging Club podcast, recorded September 24, 2026, we explored AI across the full spectrum of aging, from active older adults using new technology to expand their creativity, productivity, and opportunities at work to caregivers and senior living professionals using AI to improve the quality of care.
Our guests were Kyle Shannon, co-founder of AI Salon and creator of The Great Repurpose, and Benjamin Surmi, social gerontologist and VP of Senior Living at Arvo. They joined host Linda Sherman and co-hosts Debbie Howard and Ray Gordon for a lively discussion about the opportunities, challenges, and human skills that matter most in an AI-powered world.
This episode was part of our Future of Work series.
Highlights from the Conversation
AI as a leveler for older adults in the workforce
For years, we’ve heard about the advantages of digital natives. But does being comfortable with technology outweigh decades of experience, judgment, and wisdom? Kyle, Debbie, and Ray explored how AI could give experienced professionals new ways to apply their knowledge, evaluate results, and remain competitive. Kyle shared examples of Boomers and Gen Xers embracing AI to launch creative projects, change careers, and discover new possibilities.
The Great Repurpose: Your value is more than your tasks
Kyle introduced The Great Repurpose, his initiative exploring how AI is transforming work and our understanding of personal value. Rather than competing with machines that can increasingly perform specialized tasks, he encouraged people to identify their unique strengths, interests, and purpose—and use AI to amplify them.
Kyle also introduced the idea of “aching gaps” – things we’ve always wanted to do but lacked the skills, tools, or resources to accomplish. He explained how AI was making many of those ambitions newly accessible.
Human judgment, taste, and relationships still matter
As AI makes technical execution easier, what distinguishes excellent work from mediocre output? The panel discussed the increasing importance of ideas, creativity, taste, judgment, and the ability to communicate a vision. Benjamin emphasized another essential human advantage: building relationships and trust. Debbie shared how her years of experience helped her recognize and improve AI-generated work.
Transforming caregiver training with AI
Benjamin described how Arvo is rethinking workforce training in senior living. Instead of relying on passive videos and compliance quizzes, Arvo is developing AI-supported, personalized coaching that helps frontline workers practice real-world situations, receive feedback, and build practical skills.
The discussion explored interactive avatars, multilingual learning, and the potential for caregivers to practice challenging situations privately before encountering them on the job. Benjamin distinguished what Arvo was doing at the time of the recording from its longer-term vision for realistic simulations involving older adults.
AI applications in senior living and family caregiving
Benjamin shared examples of AI already entering senior living operations, including August Health, which uses AI to support care planning and help staff quickly understand residents’ needs, and Teton AI, which uses sensors and AI analysis to identify potential safety risks.
The conversation also covered emerging AI tools designed to help family caregivers find guidance, particularly when supporting someone living with dementia.
You don’t need to be a technical expert to use AI effectively
One of the most practical messages from Kyle and Benjamin was that effective AI use didn’t necessarily require elaborate prompts. Both favored natural conversation, giving AI relevant context, explaining what you want, and refining the results.
Kyle recommended approaching AI as a collaborative partner rather than a vending machine for answers. He also discussed the importance of helping AI understand who you are, what you value, and what you’re trying to accomplish. Voice conversations were another way to make AI increasingly accessible.
Throughout the discussion, the panel acknowledged AI’s limitations, including inaccurate or mediocre results and concerns about privacy and trust. They emphasized that human oversight remained essential.
Our Guests
Kyle Shannon, Co-Founder, AI Salon; CEO and Co-Founder, Storyvine
Kyle Shannon is a digital pioneer, entrepreneur, storyteller, and AI community builder with more than 30 years at the intersection of technology and creativity. He co-founded Agency.com, helped create AI Salon and its AI Learning Lab, and leads Storyvine, an automated video storytelling platform. His latest initiative, The Great Repurpose, explores how people can rethink work, creativity, and human potential in the age of AI.
LinkedIn | AI Salon | The Great Repurpose | Storyvine
Benjamin Surmi, Social Gerontologist; VP of Senior Living, Arvo
Benjamin Surmi has spent nearly two decades working to improve the lives of older adults and the people who care for them. His experience spans frontline caregiving, senior living operations, and national leadership, including helping introduce the Humanitude approach to the United States. At Arvo, he focuses on using AI to transform how frontline care workers learn and develop practical skills.
Benjamin is also a regular reporter on our weekly News for the Ages by Rethinking Aging Club podcast, bringing insights into senior living, caregiving, and AgeTech innovation.
Resources Mentioned
AI Salon – Community and learning opportunities for exploring generative AI
The Great Repurpose – Kyle Shannon’s initiative on work, purpose, and human potential
Storyvine – Automated video storytelling
Arvo – AI-supported workforce learning for senior living
Generations at a Glance provided by Linda Sherman
August Health – Senior living care management technology (Benjamin Surmi)
Teton.AI – AI-supported monitoring and safety technology for care settings (Benjamin). We had them on our podcast 8-14-25.
ElevenLabs – AI-generated voices and audio, discussed in connection with storytelling (Benjamin)
Kelly Boesch – AI music video creator mentioned by Kyle
Robert Scoble on X (Scobleizer) – AI/Tech industry commentator whose curated lists Kyle recommended for discovering AI creators
Episode Links
About the Podcast
Hosted by Linda Sherman, founder and executive producer of the Rethinking Aging Club podcasts, with co-hosts Ray Gordon, architect, urban planner, and futurist, and Debbie Howard, caregiving advocate and co-founder of Living Best.
Rethinking Aging Club Podcast participates in the AgeTech Collaborative from AARP.
Follow Rethinking Aging Club Podcast and our weekly companion podcast, News for the Ages by Rethinking Aging Club, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other major podcast platforms.
Music: Solemnity, written and performed by Richard Sherman.
