黄石松：数智养老，如何让技术真正“适老”

Core Insights - The rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) is significantly impacting the silver economy, with a focus on the interaction between silver economy and silver technology, creating opportunities for China to lead in "AI+" for elder care [1] - The elderly population in China is increasingly adapting to digital life, with 60.7% of seniors spending over 3 hours online daily, engaging in activities such as online shopping and mobile payments [1] Policy and Development - The development of smart elder care in China has accelerated due to supportive policies, including the "Smart Health Elderly Care Application Pilot Demonstration Project" initiated in 2017, and the "Smart Health Elderly Care Industry Development Action Plan (2021-2025)" issued in 2021 [2] - By 2025, significant enhancements in technological support for the smart health elderly care industry are expected, with initiatives like the pairing of intelligent elder care service robots for practical applications [2] Challenges - There are several challenges in integrating smart technology into the silver economy, including outdated perceptions of elder care as a labor-intensive industry and the existing digital divide, which limits the understanding of technology's effectiveness in elder services [3] - The market for elder care technology is fragmented, with few companies focusing on R&D tailored to the elderly's physiological and lifestyle needs, leading to limited product variety and high costs [3] - The age and technical skills of elder care workers also restrict the adoption of technological products in the sector [3] Regional Disparities - There are regional differences in consumption attitudes and technology acceptance among the elderly, largely due to variations in digital infrastructure and policy support, with most smart elder care applications concentrated in economically developed eastern coastal areas [4] - The mismatch between smart technology and elder care needs can increase operational costs for care institutions, potentially raising barriers for seniors to access services [4] Strategic Recommendations - To promote the deep integration of silver technology and industry innovation, it is essential to shift policy paradigms towards market-oriented approaches, supported by application scenarios and broad social participation [4] - Strengthening international collaboration and fostering competitive tech-driven silver enterprises will be crucial for maintaining a leading position in product development and industrialization [4] - Enhancing the digital governance ecosystem is necessary to create a favorable environment for the silver economy, focusing on personalized and scenario-based consumption [5]