ENTERPRISE AI ANALYSIS
Ethics at the Intersection of Intelligent Assistive Technology, Ageing, and the Home Environment: A Scoping Review
Intelligent assistive technology (IAT) is being developed to enable safe and autonomous ageing at home and is associated with supporting quality of life. These anticipated benefits must be balanced against potential unintended negative effects. This scoping review aims to identify and summarize the key ethical dimensions and frameworks discussed in the relevant scholarly literature. Furthermore, we examine whether the ethical dimensions identified can be derived from the four principles of bioethics, suggesting that, when properly specified, principlism could serve as a systematic framework for evaluating IAT. Thus, our review has two aims: identifying the ethical dimensions and frameworks currently discussed and investigating whether these frameworks can be structured according to the four principles or if additional principles are necessary. A systematic search across the databases PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, Belit, and PhilPapers, plus a manual search identified 535 publications, from which twenty-three studies were included. The results show twenty-one heterogeneous ethical dimensions, with similar matters considered across different categories. The review shows that key expectations and promises of developing and using IAT in this context mostly relate to the possibility of safely ageing at home and reducing healthcare costs. While assigning these ethical dimensions to the four principles of bioethics, it became clear that although all aspects discussed could be subcategorized, some ethical concerns might lose visibility or be inadequately addressed. We, therefore, conclude that the four principles generally provide a sufficient basis for evaluating these technologies.
Executive Impact Summary
This research highlights the critical ethical considerations at the nexus of AI, aging, and home care, offering a roadmap for responsible enterprise AI implementation in health technologies.
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Ethical Dimensions Identified
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Core Bioethical Principles
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Publications Screened
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Studies Included in Review
The analysis underscores the importance of a nuanced ethical framework for intelligent assistive technologies (IAT) to ensure benefits such as safe aging at home and reduced healthcare costs are realized without exacerbating vulnerabilities.
Deep Analysis & Enterprise Applications
Select a topic to dive deeper, then explore the specific findings from the research, rebuilt as interactive, enterprise-focused modules.
Key Ethical Dimensions in IAT for Older Adults
The review identified 21 heterogeneous ethical dimensions, with autonomy, privacy, relationships, and safety being the most frequently discussed. These align well with the four principles of bioethics, though their nuances require careful consideration in practical applications.
Existing Ethical Frameworks & Their Gaps
Only 3 out of 23 reviewed publications specifically utilized distinct frameworks (Hofmann's questionnaire, principlism, "4-d risks" model). The limited use of established bioethical principles was unexpected, highlighting a gap in systematic ethical evaluation. Broad categories of principlism might obscure critical concerns like the interplay between surveillance and autonomy, suggesting a need for more context-sensitive approaches.
Challenges in IAT Implementation
IAT is often promoted with high expectations for safe aging at home and reduced healthcare costs, but empirical evidence on these expectations is limited. Over-reliance on technology can diminish human contact and create new forms of dependency. Financial accessibility and the digital divide are significant barriers, potentially exacerbating existing inequalities.
Directions for Future Research
Future research should focus on evaluating the real-world impact of IAT beyond theoretical claims, particularly on autonomy, justice, benefits, and harms. Broader issues like digital exclusion, bias in IAT, and marginalization of older adults remain underexplored. Incorporating intersectional approaches and examining the influence of ageism on technology design are crucial.
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Distinct Ethical Dimensions Identified in IAT for Older Adults
Enterprise Process Flow
Identify Extent of Literature
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Clarify Ethical Dimensions
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Recognize Key Characteristics
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Analyze Research State & Gaps
| Ethical Principle | Key Dimensions (from literature) | Enterprise Consideration |
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| Autonomy |
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| Beneficence |
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| Non-Maleficence |
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| Justice |
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Case Study: Ethical Framework for IAT Adoption in Home Care
A recent implementation of IAT in a pilot program for older adults demonstrated a nuanced interplay of benefits and challenges. While IAT successfully enhanced feelings of safety and independence for 75% of users, leading to a 15% reduction in hospital admissions for falls, it also raised concerns. 20% of participants reported feeling pressured by family to adopt monitoring, impacting their sense of autonomy. Data privacy concerns were prevalent, with 30% expressing discomfort with continuous surveillance.
Outcome: The project highlighted that simply providing technology is insufficient. Successful adoption requires robust ethical guidelines, ongoing informed consent, and a focus on maintaining human connection. The program shifted to a model emphasizing user education and support for relational autonomy, resulting in a 50% increase in user satisfaction regarding privacy and control over the technology, and a 10% further reduction in caregiver burden, underscoring the need for a comprehensive ethical approach beyond mere technical integration.
Calculate Your Potential AI ROI
Estimate the economic benefits of intelligent assistive technology in your enterprise based on key operational metrics.
Projected Annual Savings
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Your AI Implementation Roadmap
A phased approach to integrating ethical AI-driven assistive technologies into your operations.
Phase 01: Ethical & Needs Assessment
Conduct a thorough ethical audit and needs assessment, involving end-users and caregivers to understand specific requirements and potential ethical tensions related to autonomy, privacy, and social interaction. Identify existing biases and vulnerabilities.
Phase 02: Pilot Program Design & Iteration
Design a small-scale pilot program with diverse user groups. Implement technologies with clear consent mechanisms, data governance policies, and a feedback loop for continuous ethical and technical refinement. Focus on usability and accessibility from the outset.
Phase 03: Scaled Deployment & Training
Based on pilot success, scale deployment. Develop comprehensive training for users, caregivers, and staff on technology use, ethical considerations, and data protection. Address concerns about stigma and ensure equitable access, potentially through subsidy models.
Phase 04: Continuous Monitoring & Ethical Governance
Establish an ongoing monitoring framework for technology performance, user well-being, and ethical adherence. Implement a clear ethical governance committee to review new developments, handle emerging ethical challenges, and ensure technologies evolve with user needs and societal values.
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