We're raising alarms about AI companions and what they're doing to teenagers. But when the person holding the device is elderly or living with cognitive decline, that concern seems to quietly disappear. As family caregivers, we deserve to ask the same hard questions about consent, data privacy, and the difference between real connection and simulated connection — regardless of who the technology is being marketed to. This post is not about fear. It's about being a thoughtful, informed consumer of care technology, and demanding that the companies building these products be ready to have that conversation too.

When grief and AI intersect, transparency, incentives, and emotional safety matter more than ever.

Ethical care technology is not about how advanced the AI is; it’s about whether the tool respects privacy, autonomy, transparency, and the real needs of caregivers and care recipients.