Exploring Cultural and Intergenerational Dynamics in Voice Assistant Design for Chinese Older Adults

In this study, we examined voice assistant (VA) use among Chinese older adults through interviews with 12 older adults and 6 of their adult children, as well as observations of VA use in solo and family settings. Our findings reveal that older adults are motivated to use VA for social interaction but encounter barriers due to limited cultural and linguistic customization, such as difficulty understanding regional dialects. Additionally, adult children play a dual role, providing necessary support while sometimes limiting independent use through overprotective tendencies. These results highlight the importance of designing VA with culturally responsive features and adaptable language models that consider the unique linguistic and social needs of older Chinese adults. This study contributes to the development of VA that balances autonomy and family support, enriching the technology's effectiveness for older adults in China and potentially in other similar cultural contexts.