With no shortage of challenges demanding attention, it’s hardly surprising that the biggest technological shift in our lifetimes is only now flickering on the radar of many aged care sector leaders.
The launch late last year of free, publicly available generative AI in the form of ChatGPT sparked a chain of events with significant implications for aged care organisations.
AI-driven technology is not new in aged care, as research progresses on the treatment of disease and even the reversal of ageing itself.
Many providers are yet to scratch the surface of the possibilities and risks posed by ChatGPT and the numerous similar platforms now available, let alone the staggering array of new AI tools emerging every week.
Regardless, this technology has already begun to reshape and redefine the way we interact.
It will increasingly influence communication between providers, clients and families and within aged care organisations.
ChatGPT is a chatbot – a computer program that simulates conversation with humans – powered by artificial intelligence and built using a Generative Pre-trained Transformer (GPT) architecture. It’s designed to understand prompts and generate human-like responses.
ChatGPT is free and anyone can create an account to access it.
Since its public launch last November, it has already been improved. ChatGPT4, released in March, surpasses human results in bar exams at multiple US law schools.
Here are just a few examples of the hundreds of freely available platforms (most have free and paid options):
Microsoft will shortly integrate generative AI technology into its standard applications like Word and Excel.
Generative AI can take over many time-consuming tasks. There are countless positive uses, provided humans control the quality of the finished product.
A challenge for aged care providers is how to harness it as a major time and resource saver while managing risks including:
Governments around the world are scrambling to develop guidelines that catch up with this technological onslaught.
At the same time, staff in aged care organisations, as in other sectors, are using or dabbling in various forms of generative AI. Aged care leaders are well advised to:
1. Arm themselves with information by learning about these new and emerging platforms
2. Avoid an initial impulse to ban or outlaw and consider the genuine benefits and opportunities
3. Start conversations now that will lead to robust processes to maintain good governance and manage risk
Australian government interim guidance for public service agencies contains advice that could equally apply in aged care. It recommends publicly available generative AI platforms should only be used when the risk of negative impact is low, adding that unacceptable risk includes situations “where services will be delivered or decisions will be made.”
It also stresses the importance of human-centred decision-making, a concept that serves as a reminder to the aged care sector to balance compassionate care with the perceived benefits of technology.
At this extraordinary time in history, it’s important for aged care leaders to remember that communication is an exchange of meanings between people.
AI is a useful tool, but it’s a human touch that builds true connections.
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