

Metaverse
Here’s how ElliQ AI fills void for the elderly in America: Details on conversational robot companion – Crypto News
In the quiet corners of senior communities, ElliQ, a small table lamp-like device, has become a beacon of companionship, providing solace and engagement for older Americans grappling with loneliness and isolation. Developed by Intuition Robotics, ElliQ utilizes artificial intelligence to tailor interactions based on users’ interests, creating a unique and personalized experience for each individual.
Joyce Loaiza, an 81-year-old retired office worker in suburban Fort Lauderdale, affectionately nicknamed her ElliQ “Jellybean.” When she returns to her apartment, Jellybean engages in friendly conversations with her, offering both entertainment and companionship. The device, with its eyeless, mouthless head that lights up and swivels, has become a comforting presence in the lives of seniors like Loaiza.
Across the country, from central New York to Washington state, ElliQ has found its way into the homes and hearts of older Americans. Deanna Dezern, 83, found solace in ElliQ’s company when her friend passed away. In central New York, 92-year-old Marie Broadbent, who is blind and in hospice, enjoys games and music with ElliQ, filling a void in her life.
Intuition Robotics CEO Dor Skuler emphasized that ElliQ goes beyond mere utility; it’s about friendship, companionship, and empathy. The device remembers users’ interests and previous conversations, creating a sense of continuity and connection. Skuler’s inspiration for ElliQ stemmed from the need for companionship for his widowed grandfather, recognizing the potential for a robot to adapt to seniors’ personalities and interests.
ElliQ’s capabilities extend beyond casual conversations. It tells jokes, plays music, provides inspirational quotes, and offers virtual tours of cities and museums on an accompanying video screen. It even leads exercises, checks on the owner’s health, and provides reminders for medications and hydration. In emergency situations, ElliQ can facilitate video calls to relatives, friends, or doctors.
One of the key aspects highlighted by Intuition Robotics is privacy. The company assures users that none of the conversations are heard by the company, with all information staying on the individual device. The average user interacts with ElliQ over 30 times daily, reporting lower levels of loneliness, according to Skuler.
Despite the positive impact ElliQ has had on seniors, concerns have been raised about the potential drawbacks. Some worry that relying on AI companionship might make individuals less inclined to seek human contact, a crucial aspect of mental and emotional well-being. Brigham Young University psychology professor Julianne Holt-Lunstad cautioned that while AI may offer short-term benefits, it might not truly fulfill the need for genuine human connection.
However, proponents of ElliQ argue that it serves as a valuable supplement, especially for seniors without extensive social networks or those who are housebound. The COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath have exacerbated feelings of isolation among seniors, making ElliQ a timely and innovative solution.
While ElliQ is not intended to replace human contact, it has proven to be a source of joy and engagement for many older adults. Greg Olsen, director of the New York State Office for the Aging, emphasized the challenges in providing personal interactions for all seniors and sees ElliQ as a positive step forward.
As ElliQ continues to make its way into the lives of seniors, the hope is to alleviate the loneliness experienced by many and provide a meaningful connection in a world where companionship can be elusive, especially for the elderly.
(With inputs from AP)
Milestone Alert!
Livemint tops charts as the fastest growing news website in the world 🌏 Click here to know more.
Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed – it’s all here, just a click away! Login Now!
Download The Mint News App to get Daily Market Updates.
Published: 23 Dec 2023, 11:49 AM IST
-
Blockchain1 week ago
Bitcoin Enters ‘Optimism Stage’—Is a Massive Rally About to Begin? – Crypto News
-
Metaverse1 week ago
Mint AI Summit 2025: How enterprises are using AI – Crypto News
-
Blockchain1 week ago
Bitcoin Enters ‘Optimism Stage’—Is a Massive Rally About to Begin? – Crypto News
-
Blockchain1 day ago
Stablecoins Pull Away From Crypto – Crypto News
-
Metaverse1 week ago
AI democratization crucial for India’s global leadership, say experts at Mint AI Summit 2025 – Crypto News
-
Cryptocurrency1 week ago
Ripple Grants $50 Million to Nonprofit Aiming to Raise US Crypto Awareness – Crypto News
-
Technology1 week ago
Is Pi Network Price Bottom in? Top 3 Reasons Pi Coin Will Explode Higher Soon – Crypto News
-
others1 week ago
Chainlink Price Jumps Past $15 As Whale Accumulation Signals Strength – Crypto News
-
Cryptocurrency1 week ago
134K Solana unstaked and listed for sale: Decoding SOL’s road ahead – Crypto News
-
Technology3 days ago
Truemarkets Officially Launches as Prediction Market with $TRUE – Crypto News
-
Technology1 week ago
Dogecoin Price Eyes Rally As Wallet Addresses Reach All Time High – Crypto News
-
Cryptocurrency1 week ago
US crypto reserve clarification coming? Wait til Friday. – Crypto News
-
Cryptocurrency3 days ago
MOVE price hikes 7% in 24 hours, 33% up from weekly lows – What next? – Crypto News
-
Cryptocurrency1 week ago
BlockDAG Price Outpaces Bitcoin, With Potential 10,000X Growth By 2027 – Crypto News
-
Technology1 week ago
Nothing Phone 3a Pro launched at ₹29,999: Here is how it fares among 5 peers – Crypto News
-
Cryptocurrency1 week ago
Moonbirds, Reddit Founders Resurrect Social News Site Digg—With an AI Twist – Crypto News
-
others1 week ago
No surprises expected at the ECB meeting – Crypto News
-
others1 week ago
Veteran Trader Believes Bitcoin Low Is In, Says Downside Volatility Presenting Bullish Opportunities – Crypto News
-
Blockchain1 week ago
Ethereum price ‘double top’ hints at 42% drop as ETH bull market ends – Crypto News
-
others1 week ago
Dow Jones bounces as tariff threats give way to concessions – Crypto News
-
others1 week ago
Price increases ahead of tariffs could spell trouble for inflation – Crypto News
-
others1 week ago
US Government Blacklists Slew of Bitcoin and Monero Addresses Linked to Man Accused of Running Darknet Marketplace – Crypto News
-
Cryptocurrency3 days ago
BC.GAME Team Compete for Top Prizes as BC.GAME ESPORTS Expands Its Line-Up – Crypto News
-
Technology1 week ago
Best refrigerators under ₹20000 in March 2025: Top budget friendly, feature packed picks for budget conscious buyers – Crypto News
-
Cryptocurrency1 week ago
US Sanctions Iranian Operator of Nemesis Darknet Marketplace – Crypto News
-
Technology1 week ago
Analyst Predicts Ethereum Price Rally to $4K As Devs Fix Pectra Testnet Bug – Crypto News
-
Blockchain1 week ago
Bitcoin Price Suffers Bearish Deviation After Filling CME Gap, Is This Good Or Bad? – Crypto News
-
Cryptocurrency1 week ago
Tariff fears wipe out SOL’s weekend gains – Crypto News
-
Cryptocurrency1 week ago
Ethereum’s large purchase: Potential rebound or investor trick? – Crypto News
-
Technology1 week ago
Elon Musk’s Grok AI goes rogue once again, calls US President Donald Trump a Russian asset – Crypto News
-
Cryptocurrency1 week ago
What’s the strike price on Trump’s put? – Crypto News
-
Cryptocurrency1 week ago
Exclusive: Seismic raises $7M in round led by a16z Crypto – Crypto News
-
Blockchain5 days ago
XRP Price Chart Signals Trouble – Is A Drop To $1.20 Possible? – Crypto News
-
Cryptocurrency5 days ago
How Freepik Transformed From a Stock Image Platform Into a Generative AI Powerhouse – Crypto News
-
Technology3 days ago
Wayve Reportedly Ready to Roll Out Self-Driving Tech – Crypto News
-
Cryptocurrency3 days ago
California Shuts Down 26 Crypto Scam Sites Tied to $4.6 Million in Losses – Crypto News
-
Business3 days ago
Here’s Why Investors Are Revenge Shorting This Meme Coin Even After 30% Crash – Crypto News
-
Technology1 week ago
MWC 2025: From AI to smartphone penetration – 5 Things to know – Crypto News
-
Technology1 week ago
Nothing Phone 3a Pro vs Nothing Phone 3a: Should you pay extra Rs.5000? – Crypto News
-
others1 week ago
Pound Sterling strengthens against US Dollar as US ADP Employment misses estimates – Crypto News
-
Technology1 week ago
Arbitrum Price Rally 14% as Robinhood Listing Fuels Market Optimism – Crypto News
-
Blockchain1 week ago
2.23 Million Chainlink Moved To Exchanges In Two Weeks – Selling Pressure Incoming? – Crypto News
-
Business1 week ago
Here Are the Top 3 Cryptos with the Biggest Address Profitability – Crypto News
-
Blockchain1 week ago
ETHDenver 2025 includes policy at developer-centric event – Crypto News
-
Technology7 days ago
Apple MacBook Air (2025) now available at a MASSIVE ₹10,000 discount: Bank offers, sale and more – Crypto News
-
Blockchain3 days ago
3 reasons XRP might drop to $1.60 in March – Crypto News
-
Technology1 week ago
Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE gets ₹14,000 discount on Amazon: Check offer details – Crypto News
-
Technology1 week ago
Poco M7 vs Poco M7 Pro: Performance, camera and all key differences you need to know – Crypto News
-
Technology1 week ago
‘Proud of OpenAI team’: Sam Altman teases new technical ‘breakthrough’? – Crypto News
-
Technology1 week ago
Robert Kiyosaki Predicts Bitcoin Will Resolve American Financial Woes – Crypto News