I went to a conference on aging. Concern about AI — along with cautious optimism — came up in almost every conversation.

I spent four days at one of the country's largest aging conferences. Noah Sheidlower Attendees at On Aging 2026 debated AI's role in the lives of older adults. I saw VR technology, AI prompting demonstrations, and assistive tech showcases. With age tech expected to be worth well into the billions of dollars, more eyes are on AI and aging. Can a VR headset serve as a companion to someone in a nursing home? Can an AI-powered robot care for a disabled 80-year-old? And, if so, who pays? These a...