New York State Is Set to Give Away Over 800 ElliQ Robots to Senior Citizens

ElliQ is reported to be a more interactive A.I. like Siri
Credit: ElliQ.com

New York State just invested an undisclosed, but large, amount of money to solve its elderly loneliness epidemic. ElliQ, the newest A.I. from Israeli tech company Intuition Robotics, will offer over 800 New York seniors an opportunity to chat and receive friendly reminders throughout the day.

While we’ve written about caregiving robots and robot pets for the elderly population before, ElliQ is different in its approach and abilities. Intuition Robotics describes its A.I. as “An empathetic digital companion for older adults that motivates engagement, connection and independence.” One of the biggest draws of ElliQ is its ability to adapt to its human consumer’s personality. It’s programmed to mirror its paired senior, capable of telling jokes to a person who laughs a lot, for example.

ElliQ was built with psychology in mind as it has been empowered to be empathetic, and its number one purpose is to build a trusting relationship with its elderly match. ElliQ can give health reminders, engage in friendly chats, and help seniors connect with their loved ones through phone and video conversations.

ElliQ can help with a variety of tasks and encourage its owner to practice self-care.
Credit: The Verge

According to ElliQ.com, “ElliQ is best suited for older adults who spend most of their time at home and are in need of companionship and encouragement.” Though it states that she (the website consistently refers to ElliQ as female) is useful for people age 65 and older, the New York State Office for the Aging says it will be piloting its program with individuals aged 75 and older who already have access to WiFi.

The Verge reports, “An estimated 14 million Americans over the age of 65 currently live alone, and this figure is projected to increase over the next decade as the boomer generation ages.” In order to combat the long-term loneliness, which some medical professionals feel is as detrimental to seniors’ health as smoking, New York hopes to engage people by promoting healthy habits and overall well-being.

Credit: Intuition Robotics

ElliQ consists of two parts connected to a small base. There is a touchscreen display which users can view photos, receive messages and phone calls, and get reminders throughout the day. The second component features a lamp-like face that turns toward whoever speaks to it and lights up.

Though the use of robotics in elderly care has been present for over a decade, there are critics who feel A.I. is not the answer. Detractors believe these robots dehumanize their users and place a low value on seniors’ lives. However, proponents of this purposeful technology believe it’s a solution when human care and presence is not an option. New York is hoping its deployment will enrich over 800 lives this year.

You can watch an informational video for ElliQ here: