08/13/2026

New CTO Hotline Report Finds Faster AI Adoption Across Aging Services

LeadingAge Center for Aging Services Technologies (CAST) and Ziegler Link•age Funds have released the second annual CTO Hotline report, drawing on responses from more than 100 professionals at nonprofit senior living and care organizations. Artificial intelligence (AI) adoption is one of the clearest year-over-year changes: 55% of respondents said some teams or individuals now have AI capabilities, up from 13% in 2025. Investment plans point in the same direction, with 65% expecting to invest more in large language models in 2026, 52% in data analytics software and 43% in cybersecurity testing. Operational efficiency was the top area where respondents see an opportunity for AI, selected by 85%.

The findings also offer useful benchmarks for technology planning. Membership in affinity groups such as LeadingAge was the most commonly cited source of reliable technology information, selected by 91% of respondents. At the same time, 82% said they set success metrics when implementing new technology, but only 39% usually return to those measures after implementation to assess results. LeadingAge’s coverage of the 2026 findings examines the growth in AI knowledge and data governance in more detail. Members can also read the full 2026 CTO Hotline report.