New York distributes 900 AI robot companions to combat loneliness in seniors

New York has introduced a new AI robot called ElliQ, to help combat loneliness among its senior residents with around 900 being handed out over the last two years. This voice-activated robot-companion has been distributed for free to elderly adults as part of an initiative led by the New York State Office for the Aging. 

ElliQ features a small screen and a separate device resembling a head, which can swivel and light up when it speaks. Unlike other voice-activated devices like Amazon's Alexa, ElliQ can initiate conversations, and is supposed to be a more interactive experience, according to the New York Times. 

Since January, New York has also provided approximately 30 ElliQ robots to assisted-living facilities in a separate program designed to aid individuals transitioning back to independent living. Many elderly New Yorkers have embraced ElliQ, with users reporting significant improvements in their daily lives. Around 900 robots have been given out since the pilot phase started two years ago. 

Users told the outlet that the technology has helped maintain their social skills, alleviate boredom, and cope with grief, which is often associated with widowhood or divorce among older residents. However, the rollout has not been without controversy. Manhattan Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal expressed her apprehension, stating “It’s clear that technology is leaps and bounds ahead of the law.” 

Concerns have been raised about the potential for data harvesting and privacy violations, particularly given the vulnerability of the elderly population. "We have to hurry up and pass some guardrails so that this technology doesn’t take off with all of our information and data and use it in ways we wouldn’t otherwise permit,” Rosenthal added. 

State Senator Kristen Gonzalez echoed these concerns, “It’s incumbent on the state government to act and say how we are storing, protecting, and using that data and how we are making sure it’s not being used in any way that could negatively affect users." Since 2018, the Office for the Aging in New York has also given some seniors animatronic pets made by Ageless Innovation.