AI- Enabled Shadow Techologies catalyzing age inclusive healthcare environments

As healthcare workers get older and shortages in the workforce increase, many are turning to tools like smartphone apps and AI-powered assistants to help them do their jobs more easily. These tools—called shadow technologies—aren’t officially approved by their workplaces, but they are often helpful in managing time, reducing stress, and keeping up with the fast pace of healthcare. 

The AgeSmart-AI project, led by researchers at Wilfrid Laurier University and partners across Canada and internationally, is looking at how and why healthcare professionals use these “under the radar” tools, what challenges they create, and how they might be better supported by organizations. 

Shadow Technologies?(SSTs)

They’re tools that healthcare professionals use on their own—like AI apps, calculators, or even ChatGPT—without formal approval from their employer. These can help make decisions, write notes, or stay organized. But they can also raise concerns about privacy, fairness, and safety. 

Why this research matters?

Aging Workforce

Reducing Workforce Strain to retain jobs longer

Labour Shortages

Improving productivity is a need of the hour

Unregulated Tech Use

How Tech tool use can be supported

What the Research Will Do 

    1. How workers use these tools to improve job satisfaction and performance. 

    1. Whether using them helps older workers stay in their jobs longer. 

    1. What challenges organizations face, like data security, fairness, and fitting these tools into existing systems. 

    • A survey will go out to hundreds of healthcare professionals across Canada to find out what tools they use and how they feel about them. 

    • Then, interviews and focus groups will dig deeper into people’s real-world experiences—what works, what doesn’t, and what worries them. 

    • Case studies in different healthcare settings will help understand how this plays out in practice. 

    • Healthcare workers trying to use tools effectively. 

    • Organizations and managers figuring out how to support or regulate this technology. 

    • Policymakers aiming to create fair, ethical rules around non-institutional AI for professional use in healthcare. 

  • While the study focuses on healthcare, its findings will help other industries—like education and finance—where older workers, workforce shortages, and rapid tech changes are also big challenges.

Meet the Team

  • Dr. Josephine McMurray

    PI, Co-Lead 

  • Dr. Richard Booth

    Co-Lead, Co-Applicant

  • Dr. AnneMarie Levy

    Research Coordinator

  • Dr. Alisa Grigorovich

    Co-Applicant

  • Dr. Kelly Grindrod

    Co-Applicant 

  • Dr. Maurita Harris

    Co-Applicant 

  • Dr. Kristina Kokorelias

    Co-Applicant 

  • Dr. Oliver Masakure

    Co-Applicant Dr. Umair Rehman 

  • Dr. Kerstin Denecke

    Collaborator

  • Dr Samir Sinha

    Collaborator 

  • Dr. Philip Taylor

    Collaborator 

     

Our Funding Partners 

AGE-WELL 

Canada Health Infoway 

Schlegel Villages 

SSHRC Insight Grant #435-2025-00987 

Contact 

For more information please contact Dr. Josephine McMurray, jmcmurray@wlu.ca or Dr. AnneMarie Levy, anlevy@wlu.ca  

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