George Demiris on Proactive Healthcare and The Future of AI in Nursing and Aging

George Demiris, Associate Dean for Research and Innovation at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing and a “Penn Integrates Knowledge University Professor” discusses the transformative integration of responsible and explainable artificial intelligence into nursing, elder care, and hospice settings with Pit HexAI host Jordan Gass-Pooré.The University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing is actively integrating emerging technologies into its curriculum, research, and clinical practice to enhance person-centered care, ensuring that technological advancements support rather than replace human connection, with the Penn Artificial Intelligence and Technology (PennAITech) Collaboratory for Healthy Aging playing a central role in bringing together interdisciplinary experts to address the technical and ethical challenges of integrating AI into the aging process.Discussing his work focusing on information technology's role in the healthcare of older adults, specifically through smart home solutions and passive sensing systems that support aging in place, George advocates for a shift from reactive to proactive care, using sensors for example to detect subtle behavioral changes before adverse events like falls occur. However he argues that technology must remain a "decision aid" rather than a final decision-maker, advocating for "self-reflective AI" that explains its reasoning to clinicians. This approach preserves the "moral agency" of nurses, who act as vital patient advocates ensuring AI tools are introduced ethically and reflect the diverse preferences of those they serve.Looking ahead, the conversation stresses the need for fluid collaboration between academia and industry to keep pace with rapid innovation. George envisions a holistic future for AI that prioritizes human dignity and autonomy, utilizing generative tools to adapt complex medical information to the specific literacy and language needs of patients and their caregivers.