In the current discourse, there’s significant attention on the widespread issue of loneliness. I personally experienced a pang of it yesterday, waking up alone on Mother’s Day in my apartment, though later my 18-year-old son returned to prepare dinner for me. Chronic loneliness can lead people to feel disconnected from their social circles, their work, and even themselves. This feeling is particularly acute among younger individuals, partly due to factors like remote work. However, addressing loneliness is especially challenging for older individuals who might be confined to their homes, living alone, or without employment.
Dor Skuler, CEO and co-founder of Intuition Robotics based in Israel, has developed a technology that presents an intriguing solution. His AI-driven ElliQ “robot” resembles an inexpensive lamp but engages in conversation with its users. With $83 million raised as of January and seven years in development, ElliQ is crafted to be an empathetic digital companion that initiates dialogue rather than simply responding to commands. Supported by clinical research and already deployed in thousands of nursing homes, users have reported increased happiness, better health, and reduced loneliness. A study in New York state found a remarkable 95% decrease in loneliness among users.
Skuler emphasizes that their empathetic AI device, dubbed a ‘digital friend,’ intentionally resembles a household item. He states, “I’m not interested in creating humanoid robots that deceive us into perceiving AI as human. Instead, I aim to develop AI that collaborates with us.”
Ultimately, people form strong attachments to objects, such as cell phones, without attributing human qualities to them. Similar to many Star Wars enthusiasts preferring the cheerful R2-D2 over the anxious C-3PO, we often connect with objects that don’t mirror human characteristics.
What’s crucial, perhaps, is feeling recognized as an individual. For instance, on his birthday, Skuler was greeted with a ‘happy birthday’ message from his home robot as he entered the kitchen to make coffee. “Then the one at the office saw me and said, ‘Hey, Dor. It’s a special day today, isn’t it?'” he recalls. “And she started singing ‘Happy Birthday.’ It’s seemingly trivial, but it elicited a genuine emotional response from me.”
Such machines might encourage humans to treat vulnerable individuals with more respect — addressing them by their names instead of pet names like ‘sweetie’ or ‘honey,’ taking an interest in their lives, and helping them feel uplifted despite physical and mental challenges. While this might not entirely solve the loneliness epidemic, it’s a step in the right direction.
