An Observational Study of Older Adults’ Engagement With Generative AI in Tourism
Silvia de Almeida, Irene Cheng Chu Chan · Tourism Analysis · 2026
This study challenges the “digital deficit” narrative by employing Social Practice Theory to examine how older adults engage with generative artificial intelligence (GAI) during a group trip in China. The researcher followed 14 older adults and observed their engagement with a Chinese GAI assistant across different phases of the trip. Data were obtained primarily through focus group discussions and were contextually corroborated by semi-structured observations and digital artifacts. The analysis identified three distinct configurations of practice: Fact-Checker, Pragmatist, and Integrated Partner. Specific structural mechanisms driving these transitions were identified, including vicarious competence, materially mediated autonomy, and path dependency. This study highlights the need to design GAI systems that adapt to older adults’ evolving agency and competence, emphasizing supporting for collaborative scaffolding and materially mediated trust.