Could a robot become our friend?

You may have heard about technology that helps older people, such as stairlifts or personal alarms, but have you heard about the new robot companions? Artificial intelligence (AI) is being used in Singapore to benefit the lives of older people, The Independent Singapore reports.

AI can be used not only to create digital assistants but also to provide companionship for older people. Opportunities to introduce AI to the lives of the older generation in Singapore have been discovered by the Alibaba Damo Academy, part of the tech giant Alibaba group. This year they have collaborated with Nanyang Technological University (NTU) for a multimillion-dollar investment, opening the group’s first research laboratory outside of China.

Dr Rong Jin, the head of Machine Intelligence Technologies at the academy says: “We are already witnessing the fruits of this collaboration via an artificial companion for the elderly currently under development, to tackle the urgent issues from Singapore’s ageing society.”

In the last few years, there have been more elderly people and fewer young people living in Singapore as a result of an increase in life expectancy and a decrease in the number of babies born. Singapore is also experiencing a lack of caregivers that can assist older people who need everyday support. Artificial intelligence is tackling this issue with the rise of robotic helpers.

One example of a robot designed for older people is Catalia Health’s Mabu, a personal healthcare companion. Mabu is an intelligent and social interactive robot who tailors conversations to each person. The robot’s purpose is to help patients with chronic disease management in a friendly and approachable manner through conversations and simple gestures with its eyes and head. It also holds a tablet that shows additional information.

ElliQ is another robot that aims to help to improve the lives of older people. It can help people stay engaged in the world by connecting them with their family and friends. It helps people respond to messages, share photos and make appointments, as well as engaging with them throughout the day to help with companionship.

This news article is from Companion Stairlifts. Articles that appear on this website are for information purposes only.