We returned from the American Society on Aging’s 2026 conference energized and ready to share what we learned. OATS once again sponsored the AgeTech stage, hosting sessions that brought together leaders across the aging space, startup community, and tech sector. Here are some key takeaways from the AgeTech stage and beyond:
- HealthTech & Aging: Electronic medical records, telemedicine, and wearables are reshaping care delivery. The discussion from this panel including Tom Kamber, Executive Director of OATS from AARP; Diane Ty, Managing Director of the Milken Institute Future of Aging; Jeffrey Gray, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of AgeTech Connect; and David Friede, Vice President of Strategy at wisepatientAI focused on how aging service providers are working alongside clinicians, insurers, and tech companies to help older adults fully benefit from these innovations.
- AI & Robotics: The New Digital Frontier: In conversation with Viviana Jordan, U.S. Partnerships OpenAI; and Yariel Diaz, Director of Government Affairs at Serve Robotics, a few themes stood out: don’t be intimidated, start with real challenges (not the technology), begin small, and build AI literacy along the way. There was also a clear call to engage policymakers early to shape the right guardrails.
- Philanthropy, Tech, and Aging—Innovative Models for Change: From “Leducation” (a term coined by Kristine Burrows that brings together legislation and education) to funding strategies, this session focused on how nonprofits can better advocate for their work and break down silos across the aging ecosystem. Practical advice from panelists Lindsay Goldman, Chief Executive Officer of Grantmakers In Aging (GIA); Kristine Burrows, Senior Specialist on Aging for the State of Colorado and Next50 Board Chair; and Tom Kamber, Executive Director of OATS from AARP included using AI to identify funding opportunities, building relationships with funders, and leading with measurable results.
- The Role of Technology and Innovation in Advancing Aging Strategies in Rural Communities: Alex Glazebrook, Vice President of Business Operations at OATS from AARP, joined a panel on the main conference stage that focused on the role of technology for rural older adults. The well-attended session covered the importance of considering the diversity among rural America – and bringing those voices into policy discussions.
- Older Adults and Connectivity: An Update on the Broadband Gap and Efforts to Correct It: In this session, Tom Kamber brought together experts to discuss the three-legged stool of broadband adoption: access, barriers, and use. Brittne Kakulla, Senior Consumer Insights Manager of Technology at AARP; Keni Winchester, Director of Strategy and Community Engagement at the Humana Foundation; and Joanne Hovis, President and CEO of CTC Technology & Energy highlighted the shift from building infrastructure to ensuring people have the skills to use it, and why connectivity alone isn’t enough.
In short, HealthTech advances, including AI-enabled telemedicine platforms, show strong promise for the future of caregiving while reinforcing the essential role of aging service providers in ensuring usability. Across the conference, we found that discussions on rural communities and community health workers reinforced the importance of local insight in shaping scalable solutions. And on broadband, one message stood out: infrastructure alone is not enough without the skills and support to use it.
It was lovely to see so many familiar faces at the conference this year. Let us know if you plan to attend On Aging next year!