AI, Ageing, and the (re-)Production of Social Inequalities

This session proposes a closer examination of the intersection between algorithmic and AI systems (such as generative AI and automated decision-making systems) and social inequalities in ageing societies. Older adults and their specific needs are often overlooked in the development of AI systems, while their perspectives tend to be incorporated into AI policies through stereotypical and interventionist framings(Neven & Peine, 2017). At the same time, AI technologies are frequently associated with narratives of inclusion and participation, promising easier and faster access to educational, informational, and entertainment services. However, the inclusion of older adults within the political and economic agendas surrounding AI is far from guaranteed (Gallistl et al., 2025).

Recent scholarship has introduced concepts such as digital ageism, AI ageism, data ageism, and generative ageism (Belotti et al., 2026; Rosales & Fernández-Ardèvol, 2020; Stypinska, 2023) to capture the multiple ways in which digital and algorithmic technologies can reproduce and reinforce existing patterns of age-based exclusion. These concepts highlight the need for a critical examination of how AI systems shape opportunities, risks, and inequalities across the life course.

This session invites theoretical and empirical contributions addressing topics such as:

• Algorithmic inequalities in ageing societies;
• Social inclusion and exclusion in relation to AI technologies;
• Age inclusion, diversity, and representation in AI policies and strategic documents;
• The experiences and perspectives of older adults regarding AI systems and applications;
• Critical approaches to ageism in data-driven and generative technologies.

Further topics are welcome.