The mainstreaming of AI is setting a new precedent for how people relate to non-human sources of intelligence. While automation on a consumer level has typically focused on specific tasks like replying to emails or budgeting, it’s now swiftly expanding to a more dynamic range of applications.

The gig economy has enabled people to get almost everything they could want on-demand, but for those who are less tech-savvy, analog methods of service still prevail. Papa connects students with seniors, who can do everything from taking on odd-jobs to providing much-needed companionship.

Digital solutions to problems such as isolation, a lack of mobility, and ill health are enabling older people to live well for longer in their own homes. Yet while many Boomers and Seniors and striving to become tech-savvy, what kinds of domestic gadgets do these cohorts want and need?

Rather than winding down their working lives after they hit 65, more and more American Boomers are either in employment or looking for jobs. And while some are toiling out of necessity to cover everyday costs, others are taking up roles that let them try something new or feel a sense of community.

How will robotic companions provide physical and emotional support? Could hands-free devices replace smartphones? And what are people doing to manage digital overload? In this part of the 2020 Expert Outlook, we speak to three experts about how innovation and distrust are shaping tech usage.