Research on fear of artificial intelligence among the elderly: The key of education and the prison of female

With the growth in the aging population, attitudes toward artificial intelligence (AI) technology among the elderly continue to be an important area of research. This study demonstrates a positive relationship between age and fear of AI, with fear of dying as a mediator. Specifically, we propose and find that the elderly (65 years and older) are more afraid of AI than younger individuals (<65 years old). We find that elderly individuals face higher levels of fear of dying, which may exacerbate their fear of AI technology. Furthermore, a higher level of education effectively reduces fear of dying and fear of AI among the elderly. Notably, this study reveals a significant gender disparity in the reduction of fear of AI. Although education effectively reduces the fear of AI among elderly men, it remains ineffective in alleviating the same fear among elderly women. Using data from a nationally representative public survey (2015–2022), we apply ordinary least squares regression to test these relationships. The findings of this study not only highlight the urgent need for society to be cognizant of the technological divide but also emphasize the pivotal role of education in quelling fears of new technologies among the elderly. At the societal level, this study emphasizes the need to address AI-related fear faced by elderly women, which is crucial for fostering inclusive AI adoption and reducing age- and gender-based disparities.