Image: MIT
Media Lab Could this idea be developed to cure Ageism?
MIT Media Lab’s recent Future You project produced fascinating results. Young people, aged 18 to 30, were invited to chat with AI simulations of themselves at 60. The goal was to promote long-term thinking and behavior
change, as reported in an article in The Guardian. The simulations—which were powered by a personalized chatbot and included an AI-generated image of their older selves—answered questions about their experience, shared memories, and offered lessons learned over the decades. More than three hundred people signed up for the study. Some were in control groups while others were invited to have a conversation with their future-self chatbots for anywhere between 10 and 30
minutes. In a preprint paper, the researchers said participants found the experience emotionally rewarding. It helped them feel more connected to their future selves, think more positively about the future, and increased motivation to work toward future objectives. Our future
selves The team tested generative AI in an area called future-self continuity—or the connection we feel with our future selves. Building and interacting with a concrete image of ourselves a few decades hence has been shown to reduce anxiety and encourage positive behaviors that take our future selves into account, like saving money or studying harder. Although these are early days and the test covered a small number of people, the
researchers wrote, that their results show there is potential for “positive emotional interactions between humans and AI-generated virtual characters, despite their artificiality.” The Guardian article concludes, that given a chat with our own future selves, maybe a few more of us might think twice about that second donut and opt to hit the gym instead.
Moira Allan Co-Founder & International Coordinator Pass It On
Network
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GLOBAL 50/50 ONLINE CONVERSATION
Ageing without the support of children and family? It has a name: Solo Ageing, and it's part of the growing global demographic shift. In July's 50/50 Conversation Series, we'll explore this nuanced challenge with Sara Zeff Geber, PhD, an expert in this field. She’ll share compelling stories behind the facts and statistics
to illustrate how Solo Agers are courageously navigating the journey of ageing without familial support. You’ll gain valuable insights into proactive planning and hear about inspiring individuals charting their path in later life. |
Monday, 8 July 2024 1pm EDT / 6pm BST / 7pm CEST / 7pm SAST / 8pm EAT Find your local time. View Time Zone Converter here. |
If you missed our previous 50/50 Conversations, check
them out on our PION YouTube Channel! - June – Janine Vandenberg on Gray Matters: Harnessing Election Dynamics to Reform Workplace Ageist Policies and Beyond
- May - Dr Paul Ward on Midlife New Life: Living Consciously in Midlife and
Beyond
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Every month Moira Allan, our co-founder and international coordinator, hosts an Open House for anyone who wants to find out more about our network. We offer a choice of two sessions to accommodate PION’s global outreach. |
Americas, Europe, Africa Tuesday, 9 July 1pm EDT / 6pm BST 7pm CEST / 7pm SAST
| Asia, Australasia Wednesday, 10 July 7am CEST / 6am BST 1pm SGT / 3pm AEST
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Advocating for the Rights of Older People
A forward step in the human rights of older people!
After fourteen years of deliberation, Member States of the United Nations made a substantive recommendation on the human rights of older people. The recommendation is being presented to the President of the General Assembly for further deliberation. We thank all PIONeers for your contribution and support through the years. Margaret Young and Faith Young
represented PION this year Post | Feed | LinkedIn. Additional PIONeers advocating in person in New York were Himanshu Rath, founder of the Agewell Foundation, New Dehli, who has attended every meeting of the Open-Ended Working Group since its inception, Vijay Naraidoo, Dis-Moi (DroItS
huMains Océan Indien) of Mauritius and former member of GAROP’s steering committee, Eli Mugabowisema CEO Nsindagia Orgabnization, à Kigali, Rwanda, and Paulette Tchekotio, founder of Intergen-Acamage, Yoandy, Cameroon. However, our work is far from over Post | Feed | LinkedIn. We invite you to
continue this journey with us. Join the annual GAROP member consultation meetings. We are keen to hear your thoughts about the recent 14th UN Open-Ended Working Group on Ageing (OEWG) session, the Age With Rights campaign, and to get your input to shape our priorities and advocacy activities over the coming months. Two meetings with the same agenda are set up to support different time zones: Follow-up to be
posted here. |
Signs that Things are Moving
Triple bonus for plus 50 workers explained by Poland’s Minister for Senior Policy, Marzena Okla-Drewnowicz
If you live in Poland and if you are over 50 and have care-giving responsibilities for a family member, you can apply for help from the Government. Minister Okla-Drewnowicz, speaking at a conference following AGE Platform’s General Assembly in Leuven, Belgium, spelled out this positive new policy that benefits the person
requiring care, the worker responsible for care-giving, and plus 50 job seekers. Here’s how it works: - If caring for a family member threatens a job - the plus 50 worker applies to the government for aid;
- The government sponsors a caregiver to provide the aid, thus keeping the worker at work;
- Plus 50 job seekers can candidate for a 30-hour training course to become caregivers and, after qualification, enter the team of government sponsored
caregivers.
This means, people needing care are cared for, jobs are saved and new jobs created. This policy is very recent and will be watched closely.
Congratulations to Andrew Banda, the first graduate in Africa to receive a doctorate in Social Sciences with a focus on ageing and development. This PhD is from the Optentia Research Unit of the North-West University of South Africa. The unit is designed to cultivate a deeper understanding of ageing in the unique context of Sub-Saharan Africa. His
research was on “exploring support mechanisms in rural communities in Zimbabwe for the well-being of older people”. He is seen here with Professor Jaco Hoffman of the Optentia Unit. Click here for more information.
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Himanshu Rath, speaking as a Panelist on the topic of Accessibility, Infrastructure and Participation of Old People during the 14th session of Open Ended Working Group on Ageing at United Nations Headquarters in New York. View interview
here.
EURAG - Council Meeting in Tirana, Albania
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The main topic of the EURAG council meeting in Tirana covered National Policies on Ageing 2024 and New Approaches in Albania and Issues, Concepts and
Positions in EU Countries. Delegates from Denmark to Lithuania and Holland to Slovakia and France presented updates on their country’s advances. The Albanian Ministry of Health and Social Protection, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the University College of Business of Tirana, and the Municipality of Tirana which offer us such great hospitality presented the picture in Albania which has made remarkable strides since EURAG’s meeting in the capital in 2014. View opening speech by Dirk Jarré, EURAG’s President. Mr Jarré is also Chairman of the United Nations NGO Committee on Ageing in Vienna. He handed the Ministry a copy of Making Choices for a Society for all Ages – a White Paper with recommendations for decision makers, produced by the Social Innovation for Active and Healthy Ageing for Sustainable Economic
Growth, or SIforAGE Project funded by the European Union. English | French
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Listen as Dorian Mintzer talks to Mark and Lucy Rose Fischer about the benefits and drawbacks of life after retirement, as well as different strategies and
models to help you live more creatively. Get some great insights and advice on moving into retirement. It's time to start making your older years the best time of your life! Click here to listen and check out this episode! |
PIONeer Pearls of Wisdom to Pass On
As Carl Jung said, “Thoroughly unprepared, we take the step into the afternoon of life. Worse still, we take this step with the false presupposition that our truths and our ideals will serve us as hitherto. But we cannot live the afternoon of life according to the program of life’s morning, for what was great in the morning will be
little at evening and what in the morning was true, at evening will have become a lie.”
PIONeer Click-ons Pass On
A quick read to Pass On from Ashton Applewhite who says “I'm delighted to be one of Brené Brown’s “Daring Interviews,” and honored to be keeping such remarkable company. The interview was conducted by my friend Karen Walrond. It’s a short read. |
17-19 August – Montréal, Canada A first ever - open invitation From Ashton Applewhite to go to school to co-create a world without Ageism “We
can’t make a future without imagining it. What does a world without ageism look like to you? How might we bring it closer? Do you like the idea of co-creating next steps with other age advocates? If so, how about joining me and the other co-founders of Old School at SUMMER SCHOOL in Montréal this August? It won’t be anything like regular school, I promise.” For more info and to register, click here. |
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16-17 September 16th edition of the SilverEco & Ageing Well International Festival in
Cannes, France Contributing to the UN Decade of healthy Ageing, the festival includes its International Awards, apply here. Six top level international summits on living at home, silver citizenship, silver tech, and care partners. Apply for partnership and speaker opportunities here.
10-16 November European Study Tour Value-based Healthcare in Stockholm, Sweden and Paris, France Discover the study program.
COMING IN 2025 IFA’s 17th Conference Cape Town, South Africa, is the IFA’s choice for its 17th Conference on 10-12 September 2025 with a pre-conference event on
9 September. A variety of themes from Connecting Ageing and the Economy, Building Capacity in Low/Middle Income Communities to Improving Practice through Digital Technologies, and Human Rights (Ageism / Abuse). |
Advocating for the Rights of Older People
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