Who chose what you got to choose from? AI and the depletion of agency in longevity and design.

In this episode, Lucy Patterson explores how AI influences decision-making, agency, and the importance of maintaining human friction in a world increasingly driven by algorithms.

She emphasises the need for curated agency and thoughtful design to preserve human judgment as we live longer.

Key Topics & Takeaways:

AI increasingly influences our decision options before we even choose.
Some friction in decision-making is beneficial for human judgment.
Over-optimization can limit our future surprises and adaptability.
Involving users early in design leads to better, more relevant solutions.
We should aim for curated agency, not maximal - or minimal - choice.

Soundbites:

"Just give me three good options."

"Most options never get to you, they start upstream."

"The risk isn't that AI knows too little, but that it knows too well who we used to be."

Chapters:

00:00 The impact of AI on daily choices

01:55 How algorithms narrow our decision options

03:51 The influence of recommendation systems on agency

05:48 The importance of decision friction & human judgment

08:08 Designing for agency in longevity and health tech

10:05 The risk of personalization becoming preservation

11:59 The need for surprise and adaptability in long lives

13:52 Curated agency and the role of human involvement

15:47 Designing with users: upstream co-creation

18:10 Balancing automation with human challenge & curiosity

20:04 Rethinking friction and agency in AI-driven decisions

Website

Longevity Women

Substack

Keywords: AI, decision-making, agency, longevity, design thinking, human-centered design, personalization, friction, technology, long-term planning

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