Boomers Are the Future of AI and Virtual Reality, Not Millennials

Although much of the buzz surrounding technologies like artificial intelligence and virtual reality (VR) focuses on younger generations like millennials, reality paints a different picture, reports Ozy . Increasing numbers of companies are developing tech targeting baby boomers — a market that is certain to grow as the U.S. population ages. Healthcare-oriented firms like Israel-based VoiceItt and Pillo Health are attracting capital for their respective unintelligible speech translation and robotic medical assistant products, while other companies are concentrating on leisure and entertainment. One example of the latter is the Alcove VR platform, which lets users play checkers with loved ones, engage in trivia and logic games, or ride a hot-air balloon. The objective for many such businesses is to use technology to enhance needs and desires already evident in the senior community, like social connection. Stream Soar founder Justin Baker suggests that many VR providers that tout their products to younger consumers are overlooking a generation that may have a better use for them. Rendever's Tom Neummann, whose firm creates VR travel videos, says VR is "fundamentally the ability to be in another place. And for a physically constrained population it means so much more."