The New York State Office for the Aging (NYSOFA) has announced a 95% reduction in loneliness among older adults through its partnership with Intuition Robotics, utilizing an AI companion called “ElliQ.”
Described as the “first-ever proactive and empathetic AI companion,” ElliQ was placed in the homes of over 800 older New Yorkers as part of a program to combat loneliness, a concern exacerbated by the pandemic. The voice-activated device offers support and engagement when caregivers and loved ones are not present and has features like generative painting, mindfulness exercises, memoir recording, and health assessments.
The results from the AI companionship program have been hailed as exceeding expectations, with users interacting with ElliQ over 30 times per day on average, six days a week. Of the participants, 95% reported that the AI companionship reduced their feelings of loneliness. Greg Olsen, Director of the New York State Office for the Aging, expressed excitement at the positive impact of the technology on the community and looked forward to the program’s continued growth. Intuition Robotics continues to enhance ElliQ with new features to keep older adults engaged and connected.
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