Helping older adults embrace AI and emerging technologies with a National Science Foundation grant

Taylor Thomas — Fri, 26 Sep 2025 16:08:43 +0000

Helping older adults embrace AI and emerging technologies with a National Science Foundation grant Taylor Thomas Fri, 09/26/2025 - 12:08

In a world where artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming more integrated into our lives, older adults are being left behind. Poor digital literacy is more than being unable to use social media. It increases the risk of poor health outcomes as it may exclude anyone, especially older adults, from finding and using information that sustains and promotes health. With a highly competitive grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF), digital technologies researcher, Y. Alicia Hong, is helping older adults keep pace with evolving technology and setting them up for success in the future.

Y. Alicia Hong. Photo provided

“Our project equips older adults to adapt to emerging technologies, such as AI, and become more resilient in a rapidly changing digital landscape,” said Hong, professor in �鶹��Ƶ’s Department of Health Administration and Policy.

From online banking to electronic health records like MyChart, people need to interact with digital technology on a daily basis. Hong’s project will incorporate youth, who are more adept with technology, to aid older adults’ skill-building. At senior centers, a youth and an older adult will walk through scenes where they may encounter AI technology. A web platform will guide them to collaboratively develop a digital life story with realistic scenarios with support from AI tools.

"The project seeks to strengthen AI literacy, social connectedness, and resilience among older adults while cultivating responsible AI awareness in youth," Hong said.

Hong will co-design the web-based platform that facilitates intergenerational engagement between youth and older adults in narrative-style storytelling to improve their understanding of digital technologies and AI. They will use multiple AI-based tools, including ChatGPT for script generation, Runway ML for image creation, Eleven Labs for audio, and Descript for editing.

Hong will work alongside the project’s PI, Dr. Yixuan (Janice) Zhang, assistant professor in the Department of Computer Science at College of William & Mary. Collaboration with a computer scientist will ensure refined evaluations of usability, accessibility, and participants’ ability to use the web-based platform independently, while also taking into consideration cultural sensitivity. Their interprofessional, intercollegiate partnership will optimize resource allocation and program performance.

“We aim to deliver a community-based model for AI literacy that helps older adults confidently and safely use AI, strengthens intergenerational bonds by positioning youth as tech partners, and gives community-based organizations a practical toolkit they can sustain after the grant,” said Zhang, co-PI with Hong. “The award converts a co-designed concept into a tested, transferable, and sustainable platform and program to enhance AI literacy among older adults.”

“The project will inform future programs aimed at underserved groups and foster more inclusive, accessible, and meaningful engagement with emerging technologies,” said Hong.

NSF grants are awarded to researchers whose projects have demonstrated the capacity for advancing research and education across science and engineering. The project entitled “Enhancing AI Literacy and Resilience through Intergenerational Digital Storytelling among Older Adults” is a three-year, $661,478 grant.

As a digital health behavioral interventionist, Hong studies the intersection of health services delivery and consumer informatics. Her work explores chronic care and self-care solutions through innovative digital technologies to improve patient-centered outcomes and enhance health care accessibility. Hong’s research focuses on implementation and dissemination science and leveraging digital technologies to enhance health services delivery.

Powering Artificial Intelligence at George �鶹��Ƶ

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Older Adults

Young Adults

Digital Accessibility

Artificial Intelligence

HAP Faculty

Research

National Science Foundation

“�鶹��Ƶ: Health Starts Here” 5-year Cohort Study Underway with 500+ Total Participants So Far

Anonymous — Wed, 02 Jun 2021 15:39:25 +0000

“�鶹��Ƶ: Health Starts Here” 5-year Cohort Study Underway with 500+ Total Participants So Far Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 06/02/2021 - 11:39

In This Story

Lawrence J. Cheskin, MD

Alison Evans Cuellar, PhD, MBA

The longitudinal study is an important effort seeking to improve the health of young adults.

Launched in Fall 2019, the �鶹��Ƶ: Health Starts Here study is well underway and continues to collect data on the habits and health of student participants at �鶹��Ƶ. Principal investigators, Drs. Larry Cheskin and Alison Cuellar recently published the protocol of the study in BMC Public Health. They noted that the university’s highly diverse student population makes it an ideal setting for the 5-year cohort study. So far, �鶹��Ƶ: Health Starts Here has collected data from two cohorts—freshman from Fall 2019 and Fall 2020. The study will help researchers understand how habits developed in young adulthood affect health outcomes over time. Students are historically an under-studied population.

“Almost all other studies look at older folks, or at already-sick people to understand risks for health and disease,” says Cheskin, professor and chair of the Department of Nutrition and Food Studies. “We are looking at young adults proactively, before health starts to decline.”

So far, �鶹��Ƶ: Health Starts Here has collected data from two cohorts—freshman from Fall 2019 and Fall 2020.

The study will look at at dietary patterns among the students and will compare them to national averages for young adults. The study will also look at racial and ethnic parameters as �鶹��Ƶ is a minority-majority campus.

�鶹��Ƶ: Health Starts Here will continue to collect data on participants and recruit freshman students between the ages of 18-24 years old. Researchers maintain check-ins with participants every semester for the next 4 years through online surveys and in-person clinic visits.

“The data we’ve gathered will allow researchers, but also the participants themselves, to learn more about the connections between health, mental health, and academic success,” says Cuellar, professor of Health Administration and Policy. “Our long-term goal for this study is to support the development of effective, low-cost interventions that will encourage young adults to be healthy and succeed in college.”

The study team includes Rana Ziaul, postdoctoral fellow and Alyssa Wilson, research assistant.

Students who wish to participate can visit the Health Starts Here website for more information.

Topics

Food and Nutrition

Students

College of Health and Human Services Department of Nutrition and Food Studies

College of Health and Human Services Department of Health Administration and Policy

Young Adults

College of Health and Human Services

CHHS News

Center for Health Equity

Young Adults

Helping older adults embrace AI and emerging technologies with a National Science Foundation grant

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“�鶹��Ƶ: Health Starts Here” 5-year Cohort Study Underway with 500+ Total Participants So Far

In This Story

The longitudinal study is an important effort seeking to improve the health of young adults.

Topics