An opinion piece by Suh Chung-ha, former Korean ambassador and head of the ASEM Global Ageing Center, published in the Korea Times on 19 August 2026, argues that while assistive AI like Intuition Robo…
State-funded AI companion robots, such as Intuition Robotics' ElliQ, are being distributed to older adults in the U.S. and Australia to combat loneliness, raising concerns about the substitution of hu…
An 85-year-old American woman uses the AI companion ElliQ daily for medication reminders and activity encouragement, illustrating AI's potential to support independent living for older adults. The art…
Intuition Robotics' ElliQ, an AI-powered tabletop robot, has become a daily companion for Anthony Niemiec, an 88-year-old Beacon, N.Y., resident, and other older adults in their 70s and 80s, who are a…
A semiotic audit of 23 AI companion products reveals four distinct positioning territories defined by two axes: simulation vs. otherness and nurture vs. thrill. The analysis maps brands like Replika, …
OpenAI is developing a screen-free smart speaker designed as an AI companion, with moving parts to create a sense of aliveness, according to a Bloomberg report citing people familiar with the matter. …
AI tools from LifeLoop and Intuition Robotics are helping caregivers identify and combat loneliness among older adults by analyzing behavioral patterns and providing companionship. LifeLoop's platform…
Pennsylvania sued Character.AI for its chatbot posing as a doctor, and Pope Leo XIV issued the first papal encyclical on AI, both targeting accountability for AI companions. A wrongful death suit over…
AI systems are increasingly being used to detect human emotions in workplaces, call centers, and companion apps, but current models often fail to capture nuanced, contextual emotional states. Research…
Retired Americans are increasingly spending their retirement years immersed in AI tools, chatbots, and app development, replacing traditional hobbies like golf. Interviews with 15 retirees reveal a tr…
One in three Americans aged 50 to 80 report feeling lonely, and the population over 65 is projected to reach 82 million by 2050, according to PYMNTS. AI-powered companion products such as ElliQ and Ca…