How an AI robot can help seniors battle loneliness

The New York State Office on Aging announced Wednesday that it will partner with Intuition Robotics to bring an AI robotic care partner into the homes of 800 seniors as part of the state's efforts to combat social isolation and support aging. in the place.

About 1 in 4 adults age 65 and older are considered socially isolated, putting them at higher risk for a wide range of conditions, from dementia to heart disease and stroke. Many do not have family and friends who live nearby or who visit regularly; and the number of professional caregivers is falling short of demand as the US population ages.

Responding to the need, the New York State Office for Aging announced Wednesday that it will partner with Intuition Robotics to bring an AI robotic care partner into the homes of 800 seniors as part of the state's efforts to combat the social isolation and support aging. instead. NYSOFA is working with local offices for the elderly and other partners to identify seniors who would benefit most from ElliQ by Intuition Robotics, which the Israeli company describes as the first proactive and empathetic robotic care partner.

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ElliQ launched commercially in March in the United States after years of pilot testing and early production deployments.

"This partnership is just the beginning of our work with local and federal governments and public sector partners," Dor Skuler, CEO and co-founder of Intuition Robotics, said in an email. "New York State is an innovator in technology solutions for aging, and we are thrilled that they are launching this first-of-its-kind pilot program with ElliQ."

The attention buddy robot is made up of two parts: a moving "head" and a touch pad. They are both attached to a single base. The head has a lamp-shaped "face" with a microphone and speakers; when he talks to someone, he lights up and turns to face that person. The tablet is used to display images and features and make video calls.
As with other AIs, the technology is about helping people, not replacing them. But ElliQ is also designed to be interactive and even personalized. The AI Care Companion, which is small enough to sit on a person's dresser, not only reacts, but sounds with things like a medication reminder or a joke.

While we all want to be there for family and friends as they age, that's not possible all the time for most people," Skuler said. “We also know there is a caregiver crisis.”

A national shortage of 151,000 caregivers is projected to exist by 2030 and will increase to 355,000 caregivers by 2040 in the United States, according to a report by the Global Coalition on Aging and Place for Life.

"We want ElliQ to fill in the gaps when human companionship isn't available as often as we'd like," Skuler said.

However, ElliQ is not made to look like a person.

"The design is meant to prevent people from mistaking ElliQ for a human, but the AI and conversational features give it just enough personality that people feel comfortable talking and connecting with it," Skuler said. Additionally, "ElliQ makes it easy to text, call, or plan with family and friends. No AI or technology can truly replace human companionship.

Skuler said the company doesn't have "real competitors that have the same level of proactive AI and empathetic companionship."

There are other digital assistants on the market, such as Amazon Alexa and Google Nest products. But they lack ElliQ's proactive AI capabilities, he said. Skuler noted that ElliQ is designed specifically for older adults with input from people 65 and older.

"There are other aging tech companies that are also creating great solutions specifically for seniors. GrandPad has created a simplified tablet for seniors. Ageless Innovation has created robotic pets," he said.