2022/06/20

New York state officials will distribute robots to hundreds of elderly residents, saying the digital companions will remind them to take their meds, help contact loved ones, book an Uber and even engage in small talk and jokes. The New York State Office on Aging (NYSOFA) will deliver the machines to the homes of 800 seniors as a way to address the growing problem of loneliness, state officials said. NYSOFA Director Greg Olsen told The Verge that the state will distribute a robot called "ElliQ" made by Israeli tech company Intuition Robotics. ElliQ is described as "a more proactive version of Siri or Alexa." "There are many features of ElliQ that appeal to us — it's a proactive tool that remembers interactions with individuals, focused on health and wellness, stress reduction, sleep, hydration, and more," Olsen told the tech site.