Franziska Sonnauer and Andreas Frewer explore the delicate balance between self-determination and external determination in the context of older adults using assistive technologies, particularly those incorporating artificial intelligence (AI). The authors introduce the concept of a “tipping point” to delineate the transition between self-determination and external determination, emphasizing the importance of considering the subjective experiences of older adults when employing such technologies. To this end, the authors adopt self-determination theory (SDT) as a theoretical framework to better understand the factors that may influence this tipping point.
The paper argues that the tipping point is intrapersonal and variable, suggesting that fulfilling the three basic psychological needs outlined in SDT—autonomy, competence, and relatedness—can potentially shift the tipping point towards self-determination. The authors propose various strategies to achieve this, such as providing alternatives for assistance in old age, promoting health technology literacy, and prioritizing social connectedness in technological development. They also emphasize the need to include older adults’ perspectives in decision-making processes, as understanding their subjective experiences is crucial to recognizing and respecting their autonomy.
Moreover, the authors call for future research to explore the tipping point and factors affecting its variability in different contexts, including assisted suicide, health deterioration, and the use of living wills and advance care planning. They contend that understanding the tipping point between self-determination and external determination may enable the development of targeted interventions that respect older adults’ autonomy and allow them to maintain self-determination for as long as possible.
In a broader philosophical context, this paper raises important ethical questions concerning the role of technology in shaping human agency, autonomy, and decision-making processes. It challenges us to reflect on the ethical implications of increasingly advanced assistive technologies and the potential consequences of their indiscriminate use. The issue of the tipping point resonates with broader debates on the nature of free will, the limits of self-determination, and the moral implications of human-machine interactions. As AI continues to become more integrated into our lives, the question of how to balance self-determination and external determination takes on greater urgency and complexity.
For future research, it would be valuable to explore the concept of the tipping point in different cultural contexts, as perceptions of autonomy and self-determination may vary across societies. Additionally, interdisciplinary approaches that combine insights from philosophy, psychology, and technology could shed light on the complex interplay between human values and AI-driven systems. Finally, empirical research investigating the experiences of older adults using assistive technologies would provide valuable data to help refine our understanding of the tipping point and inform the development of more ethically sound technologies that respect individual autonomy and promote well-being.
Abstract
Assistive technologies, including “smart” instruments and artificial intelligence (AI), are increasingly arriving in older adults’ living spaces. Various research has explored risks (“surveillance technology”) and potentials (“independent living”) to people’s self-determination from technology itself and from the increasing complexity of sociotechnical interactions. However, the point at which self-determination of the individual is overridden by external influences has not yet been sufficiently studied. This article aims to shed light on this point of transition and its implications.
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