Elder Care Meets AI Dolls

Via Unwind AI

Elder Care Meets AI Dolls 🪆

“You must’ve heard about AI girlfriends for tackling loneliness. But AI companions for elderly people?
A Korean-based company released an AI companion doll at the Mobile World Congress, to combat the loneliness experienced by South Korea’s elderly population. Priced at $1800, this robot doll named Hyodol is not just another tech gadget. Beyond its slightly eerie exterior lies a sophisticated AI capable of conversation, health reminders, and even alerting caregivers in case of emergencies, keeping an eye on its users.

Key Highlights:

1. Hyodol is equipped with a mobile communication module, processor, various sensors, and speakers, supported by an LLM capable of holding full conversations.
2. It offers features like touch interaction, voice reminders, health coaching, quizzes, exercise, music, and more, alongside caregiver functionalities like voice messaging and motion detection.
3. Approximately 7,000 Hyodol dolls have been deployed to seniors living alone and dementia patients in a university hospital in Gangwon province.
4. A study conducted by the company shows that over 9,000 users showed a reduction in depression levels from 5.73 to 3.14 and an improvement in medicine intake.

This is a classic case of AI being effectively deployed for caregiving and companionship. With more acceptance of social robots, it can very well cater to an increasingly aging population and the lowering birth rate.”