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Detailed Analysis of Responses from Older Adults through Natural Speech: Comparison of Questions by AI Agents and Humans

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  • Toshiharu Igarashi

    (Simulation of Complex Systems Lab, Department of Human and Engineered Environmental Studies, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 277-8563, Japan
    AI-UX Design Research Institution, Advanced Institute of Industrial Technology, 10-40 Higashi-Oi 1-Chome, Shinagawa, Tokyo 140-0011, Japan)

  • Katsuya Iijima

    (Institute of Gerontology (IOG), The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
    Institute for Future Initiatives (IFI), The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan)

  • Kunio Nitta

    (Tsukushikai Medical Corporation, Tokyo 186-0005, Japan)

  • Yu Chen

    (Simulation of Complex Systems Lab, Department of Human and Engineered Environmental Studies, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 277-8563, Japan)

Abstract

In recent years, an increasing number of studies have begun to use conversational data in spontaneous speech to estimate cognitive function in older people. The providers of spontaneous speech with older people used to be physicians and licensed psychologists, but it is now possible to have conversations with fully automatic AI agents. However, it has not yet been clarified what differences exist in conversational communication with older people when the examiner is either a human or an AI agent. In this study, elderly people living in the community and attending a silver human resource center and a day service center were the subjects. Dialogues were conducted using generic interview items for estimating cognitive function through daily conversation, which were developed through research on estimation methods for cognitive function. From the data obtained from the dialogues, we compared the effects of human–AI interaction on the number of utterances, speaking time, and silence time. This study was conducted at a facility in Japan and included 32 subjects (12 males and 20 females). The results showed significant differences between human and AI dialogue in the number of utterances and silent time. This study suggests the effectiveness of AI in communication with older people and explores the possibility of using AI in social welfare.

Suggested Citation

  • Toshiharu Igarashi & Katsuya Iijima & Kunio Nitta & Yu Chen, 2024. "Detailed Analysis of Responses from Older Adults through Natural Speech: Comparison of Questions by AI Agents and Humans," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(9), pages 1-15, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:21:y:2024:i:9:p:1170-:d:1470097
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Juliana Damasio Oliveira & Debora C. Engelmann & Davi Kniest & Renata Vieira & Rafael H. Bordini, 2022. "Multi-Agent Interaction to Assist Visually-Impaired and Elderly People," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-14, July.
    2. Young Hoon Oh & Kyungjin Chung & Da Young Ju, 2020. "Differences in Interactions with a Conversational Agent," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(9), pages 1-20, May.
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