'Siri, should I take this pill?' — Assessing Which AI-driven Assistant is Best

Abstract

[From introduction] As clinicians and members of the public gain increasing access to artificial intelligence (AI)–enabled tools such as the notetaking applications recently approved by Te Whatu Ora-Health NZ 1 (HNZ) and systems capable of rapidly synthesising emerging evidence, older adults are frequently unable to benefit from these innovations.

Barriers including complex password requirements, visual limitations such as small font sizes, concerns about damaging the device, and exposure to overwhelming volumes of unsolicited content can restrict older adults’ ability to use digital technologies to find reliable health information.2

Voice assistants (VAs) have been available in Aotearoa since 2011, beginning with the release of Siri on the iPhone 4, followed by the wider availability of Amazon’s Alexa as a standalone Echo smart speaker from 2017.3

These technologies gained particular uptake among older adults due to their simplicity, hands-free operation and capacity to support everyday tasks such as setting reminders, accessing weather updates, listening to radio content and answering general knowledge queries.