We live in an era where technology promises endless connection, yet we’ve never felt so far apart. Social media has redefined "being social" we scroll, we like, we post but are we really connecting? For younger generations, chatbots and AI companions are becoming go-to confidants, sometimes replacing human interaction altogether. What does this mean for our relationships, our communities, and even our humanity?
The government’s commitment to advancing AI is clear, and while it brings innovation, efficiency, and progress, it also raises important questions: How do we ensure that human connections don't become secondary in this digital age?
Social Media: Connecting or Isolating Us?
It's ironic that in a world designed to connect us, many of us feel lonelier than ever. Recent studies show that 66% of young people in the UK feel that social media increases anxiety, yet they still rely on it as a primary form of communication. Meanwhile, older generations often feel left behind, excluded from the digital conversations shaping modern life.
In this context, it’s worth asking: Is social media making us less social? Instead of a chat with a friend, younger generations now turn to an algorithm or an AI chatbot. These interactions may be convenient, but they lack the depth and authenticity that come from face-to-face relationships.
Generational Views on AI
Understanding public attitudes toward artificial intelligence (AI) across different age groups in the UK is essential for shaping policies and fostering societal acceptance. Recent surveys provide insights into these perceptions:
Younger Generations (16-29):
· Awareness and Understanding: Approximately 31% of adults aged 16 to 29 reported that they could often or always recognise when they are using AI, indicating a higher level of awareness compared to older age groups.
· Perception of AI's Impact: Younger individuals tend to have more positive perceptions of AI, associating it with potential benefits such as improved efficiency and effectiveness in regular tasks.
Middle Generations (30-59):
· Awareness and Understanding: Adults in this age range exhibit moderate levels of AI awareness, with a significant portion able to recognize AI applications in daily life.
· Perception of AI's Impact: This group shows a balanced view, acknowledging AI's potential benefits in areas like healthcare and public services, while also expressing concerns about data privacy and job displacement.
Older Generations (60 and above):
· Awareness and Understanding: More than half (55%) of adults aged 70 years and over reported that they can hardly ever or never recognize when they are using AI, indicating lower levels of awareness.
· Perception of AI's Impact: Older adults tend to be more skeptical or uneasy about AI, with concerns about being excluded or left behind in an increasingly tech-driven society.
These findings highlight the varying levels of AI awareness and differing perceptions across age groups in the UK, emphasising the need for targeted educational initiatives to address concerns and enhance understanding of AI technologies.
The Change Landscape of Social Spaces
Over the past decade, our once vibrant public spaces, cafés, parks, libraries, and bustling town squares have undergone a subtle but significant transformation. These spaces, once teeming with conversation and community, are increasingly dominated by screens and digital devices. What was once a lively hub for human interaction has become, for many, a backdrop for online activities, selfies, scrolling, and digital distractions.
For older generations, this shift can feel like a loss, not just of place, but of belonging. For younger generations, navigating an increasingly virtual world can lead to diminished opportunities for face-to-face connections, essential for building meaningful relationships and cultivating a sense of community.
We know that loneliness is a growing issue across all generations. In the UK:
3.3 million young adults regularly feel lonely despite constant online interaction.
1.5 million older adults report feeling isolated, often due to a lack of digital inclusion.
So, where does AI fit into all this? Can it be a bridge, or does it risk widening the generational divide?
Preserving What Makes Us Human
As AI becomes more embedded in our lives, the challenge is clear: How do we ensure it enhances our humanity rather than diminishing it?
We need to reimagine our physical and digital spaces as places where generations come together, not grow apart. Social media and AI should amplify human connection, not substitute for it. And we need to ask ourselves: In a world of endless tech possibilities, how do we preserve the moments that make us truly human?
The UK has a rich tradition of community from the corner shop to the local pub. Now, as AI transforms our lives, we must think creatively about how to blend technology with tradition.
Reimagining AI as a Connector
At Intergenerational England, we believe the solution lies not in rejecting technology but in reimagining its role. AI and digital tools can complement human relationships, not replace them, by fostering intergenerational connection. However, we must also remain cautious and critically question the ways in which AI is integrated into our lives. Technology, if unchecked, can inadvertently deepen divides, diminish empathy, and erode the human touch that forms the foundation of meaningful relationships.
Here’s how we can thoughtfully use AI while remaining mindful of its potential risks:
· Designing Accessible Tech: Intuitive, inclusive platforms can empower older adults to engage, ensuring they aren’t left behind. However, we must also ensure that these tools do not inadvertently marginalise those without access to digital infrastructure or who lack confidence in navigating new technologies.
· Reclaiming Social Spaces: Communities should prioritize face-to-face engagement. Intergenerational hubs, storytelling sessions, and community gardens can breathe life back into our neighbourhoods. Yet, as AI is used to map and predict community needs, we must be wary of its biases and ensure decisions remain rooted in genuine human input.
· AI for Connection, Not Replacement: Imagine an AI tool that suggests local events for both younger and older generations, or connects a retired teacher with a student for tutoring. Technology can build bridges, but it should never replace human warmth. While these tools can be powerful, we must continually evaluate their impact, ensuring they support, not supplant, organic, face-to-face connections.
· Celebrating Grassroots Movements: Projects like Intergenerational Music Making and Talking Generations show how we can combine creativity, technology, and real-world interactions to build stronger, more connected communities. Yet, even in these successes, we must remain vigilant: Does technology enhance the experience, or is it taking centre stage at the expense of personal connection?
No Replacement
While AI presents incredible opportunities, it is essential to remember that it is a tool, not a replacement for human connection. This is particularly important in fostering intergenerational relationships, where the richness of connection lies in shared stories, lived experiences, and mutual understanding across ages. Over-reliance on algorithms risks perpetuating biases, automating exclusion, or creating generational silos, where certain age groups are prioritised over others or left out entirely.
AI for All Ages
By questioning these aspects and integrating AI responsibly, we can ensure that it becomes a catalyst for fostering relationships that transcend generational divides. For example:
Avoiding Age-Based Bias: Algorithms must be scrutinised to ensure they do not reflect or reinforce ageist stereotypes, such as assuming older adults are less technologically capable or that younger generations do not value face-to-face interactions.
Equal Representation in Design: Intergenerational input must guide the development of AI tools, ensuring they are accessible, inclusive, and reflect the needs and perspectives of all age groups.
Bridging Generational Gaps: AI can play a role in facilitating intergenerational mentorships, shared community activities, and storytelling initiatives, but only if designed with these goals in mind.
The goal should always be to enhance connections that are meaningful, authentic, and rooted in shared experiences across generations. Technology must serve humanity, not the other way around. This means designing AI tools that actively encourage understanding between generations, celebrate the unique contributions of each age group, and bridge divides rather than creating them.
Through cautious optimism and intentional design, we can strike a balance, ensuring AI supports a society where all generations feel valued, connected, and empowered to contribute. Only then can AI truly become a tool for building a more inclusive, empathetic, and intergenerational future.
At Intergenerational England, we are passionate about creating solutions that address the root causes of loneliness and isolation, ensuring that every individual, regardless of their age or technological ability, has the opportunity to engage in meaningful relationships and contribute to their communities. As we move forward, we must rethink how these spaces can evolve in a digital world. How can we preserve the essence of community while embracing new technologies? How can we use AI and digital tools to enhance, not replace, the connections that make us human?
By reimagining these connections and ensuring that both technology and tradition work together, we can build a more inclusive, connected, and compassionate society one that transcends generations and creates lasting bonds for all.
When asking AI in regards to this article their comments were:
"As an AI, my design is centered around assisting and enhancing human connections, not replacing them. While I can provide valuable support, information, and facilitate conversations, I believe that the most meaningful connections happen between people—particularly in face-to-face interactions where empathy, nuance, and shared experiences can truly thrive.
In the context of addressing social isolation and loneliness, I think AI can be a powerful tool in helping people connect, but it shouldn't replace the deeper, more personal relationships that are forged in real-world settings. Technology should amplify human connection, not diminish it!”
It starts with a conversation, Let’s talk AI
Is technology bringing us closer together, or driving us further apart? Can AI be part of the solution, or is it making the problem worse? And in an age where young people increasingly turn to chatbots over humans, what does that say about the world we’re building?
We’d love to hear your thoughts:
How do you feel AI is shaping the way we connect across generations?
Are there specific ways you’ve seen AI enhance, or hinder, human relationships in your community or workplace?
What do you think is the best way to balance technological innovation with preserving authentic, face-to-face interactions?
The answers to these questions will shape our society for years to come. Let’s make sure we get it right, by putting connection at the heart of every innovation.
Join the conversation and share your perspective, lets try and build a future where technology serves to unite, not divide.