I'm writing this from China as I prepare to celebrate Chūn Jié, the Spring Festival, a time set aside for rest, family, and renewal. This email is scheduled to send while I'm offline, which feels fitting given what I wanted to discuss in this intro.

The promise of AI has always been about doing less work. The reality, according to recent research, is that we're doing more. Instead of working less, people work faster, take on more responsibility, and work longer hours.

What drives this isn't pressure from management. It's excitement. The thrill of what AI can do, combined with the satisfaction of what we can now accomplish with it, pushes us to expand our own boundaries. I've promoted the promise of less work myself, and I've fallen into the same pattern. The research shows this happens without anyone formally asking for it. People, energised by the possibilities, simply try to keep pace with what AI makes possible.

This is a reminder—to you and to myself—that productivity gains can mask what's building underneath. Mental fatigue accumulates quietly, especially when we're riding the high of expanded capability. We don't always notice we're overdoing it because we're genuinely enjoying what we can now achieve.

The excitement is real, but the risk is too.

I'm starting a new interview series for Age Friendly Futures. Some guests will be deeply embedded in aged care. Others bring perspectives from adjacent fields that deserve our attention. All of them offer something worth hearing.

My first interview is with Professor Richard Watson, Regents Professor at the University of Georgia's Terry College of Business. Professor Watson has developed a framework called Capital Asymmetry — a lens for understanding how organisations create competitive advantage that's difficult for rivals to replicate.

The framework identifies six types of capital (economic, human, natural, organisational, social, and symbolic) and shows how investing strategically in specific types — or combinations — can reshape market share. His research spans over a century of automotive industry competition, revealing patterns that apply directly across sectors.

In this interview we discuss:

As part of his research, Professor Watson (LinkedIn) is offering to facilitate capital asymmetry analysis sessions with aged care providers across Australia. For Melbourne-based organisations, there's no cost. Outside Melbourne, he asks only for travel costs to be covered.

This is a rare chance to work directly with the researcher who developed the framework to assess your competitive position and identify strategic opportunities.

Tuesday 10 March, 12–1pm AEDT | Online | Free

Board members, CEOs, and managers have been asking the questions: How do we actually use ChatGPT for documentation? What happens if staff upload resident data? How do we implement AI without triggering compliance issues?

The panel includes:

If you're responsible for AI decisions at your organisation and want practical answers instead of speculation, this session is for you.

Wednesday 11 March, 12–1:30pm AEDT | Online | Free

As Australia's aged care sector continues to evolve, this session will explore how CHSP providers can prepare for technological and demographic shifts while strengthening inclusion and support for culturally diverse communities. This webinar will unpack best practices in planning for cultural diversity, workforce engagement, and technology adoption.

NEW | Wednesday 18 March, 8.30am to 4.30pm local time | In-person | Free

Location: Balcony Tower Room, Clocktower Centre, 750 Mt Alexander Road, Moonee Ponds VIC 3039

If you are in Melbourne and manage or coordinate community aged care services, this session is designed for you.

We will move past theory and focus on practical application. We will work directly with current generative AI tools and learn how to adapt them to your operational context, from internal processes to communication and compliance tasks.

Expect a structured, hands-on day. You will test tools, build simple workflows, and leave with a framework for responsible use in your organisation.

Places are limited and registrations are essential.

Thank you to Jenni Mazaraki from Mooney Valley Connect for organising.

Researchers Robert Sparrow and James Brown argue that "digital companions"—AI chatbots that present as human with realistic faces, voices, and gestures—are being marketed as solutions to loneliness and social isolation despite fundamental problems.

Whilst these systems might reduce loneliness by entertaining users, they don't reduce social isolation because “imaginary friends” don't count as real social connections. The researchers argue that digital companions risk increasing isolation by replacing real relationships, as they're available 24/7 and never rude or judgmental, making human relationships seem unsatisfying by comparison.

A long-term study across 13 Western European countries found that human longevity hasn't hit biological limits—champion regions in Northern Italy, Switzerland, and Spanish provinces continue gaining 2.5 months of life expectancy yearly for men and 1.5 months for women. By 2019, life expectancy in these regions reached 83 for men and 87 for women. However, since 2005, Europe has fragmented: lagging regions in East Germany, Belgium, and parts of the UK saw life expectancy gains practically reach a standstill. Researchers attribute stagnation to risk-taking behaviours (smoking, alcohol, poor nutrition, lack of exercise) and the 2008 economic crash, which compromised health in struggling regions whilst others prospered.

A survey of 500+ Australian women aged 45-64 found frustration at menopause products that don't work. The menopause market is projected to reach US$24.4 billion by 2030, selling teas, supplements, cooling blankets, and apps with unproven claims. Women felt exploited by companies targeting "vulnerable women who are ripe for the picking" whilst framing menopause as catastrophic and ignoring structural midlife stressors like caregiving and gendered ageism.

QUT researcher Zina Sciacca has asked me to share this opportunity and I think it’s worthwhile, with significant practical value.

Many CALD residents lose their English after dementia, stroke, or cognitive decline, leading to distress, isolation, and care escalation. The Listening Link is a four-week micro-pilot testing real-time AI translation earbuds during routine interactions like meals and personal care. Led by Zina (inspired by her Nonna's stroke-related language loss), it's designed to be used for everyday moments where formal interpretation isn't practical.

Shortlisted for ARIIA support, the project needs one Brisbane residential aged care partner with a strong CALD cohort for a 6–12 month partnership: co-design and planning, then a four-week pilot with potential to scale. Benefits include clearer communication, reduced distress, evaluation data for quality improvement and funding applications, and potential gains in staff retention and family trust.

You can apply via the ARIIA Partnership Opportunities (select Opportunity 2). More details in this PDF and on The Listening Link website.

I have used this little app consistently since last year. It handles all sorts of accents, (including non-standard English accents like mine), without requiring any setup or voice training.

What it does

If you prefer speaking over typing, or want to reduce time spent drafting emails and documents, this tool is practical and easy to integrate into your workflow.

Thursday 26 February, 12–4pm AEDT | Online | Free

A half-day symposium for CHSP executives and HR leaders focused on recruitment and retention. The session challenges common assumptions about the aged care workforce and presents evidence-based trends, economic impacts, and practical strategies.

I will be presenting on Practical AI Adoption for Under-Resourced Teams, outlining a tiered approach to AI adoption for CHSP providers.

Each week, I review developments in ageing and aged care and what they mean in practice. If this was useful, forward it to someone in the sector who'd appreciate it.

George Gouzounis