Robotic animal dolls, such as Joy for All companion pets, are increasingly considered as alternative companion pets for seniors, particularly those with Alzheimer’s and dementia who struggle with social isolation.

Diana Wise witnessed the positive impact of these robotic pets on her own mother, who lived in a memory care unit, and subsequently started the "Share the Love" Helen Espinoza Memorial Fund to provide more robotic pets to those in need.

These pets can be muted when needed and are distributed through organizations like WACOG, with some users even mimicking real pet care by placing them in crates at bedtime.

Inspired by their positive effects, Wise aims to raise further funds and promote the idea to families interested in purchasing these companions.

Some users appreciate that robotic pets do not require expenses for food or veterinary care, offering companionship without traditional responsibilities.

The company producing Joy for All pets seeks to address loneliness using artificial intelligence.

Other AI companions, such as ElliQ by Intuitive Robotics, are designed to help older adults manage health, wellness, and family connections, greeting them, checking on their well-being, and offering activities like trivia and music.

Greg Olsen, from the New York state Office for the Aging, has noted the transformative aspect of this technology, though interactions remain limited by the nature of robotics.

Challenges remain as the workforce in eldercare is insufficient, making a balance between technology and human care essential.

The emergence of AI-driven chatbots and virtual companions is another trend offering emotional support to users, as showcased in CES 2024.

Healthcare investments are increasingly focusing on technologies that deliver care in the home, with expectations for further advancements.

The household robot market, valued in billions, includes domestic robots for not only cleaning and chores but also for entertainment, education, and elderly assistance.

Companies like Inflection AI are developing applications such as Pi.ai to enrich how people interact with AI.

Despite these advances, there are concerns about the impact of human-like AI on behaviors and social lives, with nearly a third of those polled worrying about reduced human interaction.

While AI can help mitigate loneliness, critics note it is no replacement for genuine human contact, underlining the importance of balance as the technology evolves.

The development of robotic companions is viewed as only the beginning, with future uses including potential health monitoring capabilities.

Scientists predict that robots will serve as companions, like dogs, for elderly or lonely people in the future.

Their research focuses on understanding why people enjoy dogs’ company, which helps develop more effective robotic companions.

A new wave of AI-driven robotic pets with individualized learning is now available in the US, including designs that recognize faces and remember owners’ preferences, offering a unique and personal relationship.

Robotic cats are already being used to provide support for patients and medical staff in hospitals, such as those in Moscow.

Engineers have created a robotic guide dog for visually impaired people capable of responding to leash tugs to help with mobility.

While robotic guide dogs are now able to direct individuals along corridors, they are unlikely to fully replace highly trained real guide dogs in the near future.

These robots are designed with appearances intended to avoid fears over the "uprising of machines" and are priced around $1,400 for wider accessibility.

Modern robotic pets, including dogs and cats, imitate human and animal behaviors and are programmed for cleaning, cooking, and offering emotional support.

Such devices, like the Lola robot, have a versatile, sometimes humanoid, design that can be adapted for various functions across industries.

Robots have been used in medical contexts, such as telesurgery and remote patient interaction, but this technology extends robotic capabilities beyond emotional support.

Ethical concerns have been raised regarding the replacement of living animals with robots, involving questions of privacy, the nature of companionship, and the risk of exploitation.

Robotic pets can help address loneliness and support daily living in seniors and those with disabilities, facilitating greater independence at home.

Modern robots like "Retriever" models are mobile and can perform household tasks, proving particularly beneficial for users with disabilities.

The trend toward rental and purchase of robotic pets is particularly prominent in the US commercial sector.

Popular robotic pets such as Sony’s Aibo and newer models of robotic cats and dogs demonstrate the rapid development of this sector, though challenges remain—such as creating expressive faces and naturalistic behaviors.

Some robots, like the Ameca humanoid or TOSY chess-playing robot, demonstrate advanced social interaction but are primarily research or novelty devices at present.

Public attitudes are mixed, with some people appreciating the emotional support these machines offer, while others express hesitancy about replacing real animal companions with technology.

Robotic pet companions have advanced rapidly, with specialized robots designed for tasks like emotional support and daily assistance, especially for elderly individuals and those with disabilities.

Assistive robotics refers to robots providing support and care, with examples including Sony's "AIBO" and Tombot’s robot dog, inspired by the founder's mother who could no longer care for her real pet due to Alzheimer’s disease.

Products like PARO, a robotic seal, can move its tail and fins, open its eyes when caressed, and imitate seal sounds to provide comfort experiences.

Research is underway into robotic dogs as guides for visually impaired people, with prototypes being tested in China to help users live more independently.

Entertainment and companionship robots are also growing, as robots are used in workplaces, logistics, manufacturing, and leisure.

Some therapeutic robots, such as "Elum," a water snake robot, have exoskeletons that change shape and adapt to narrow gaps, and are built for rough terrain and even swimming, making them useful for search, rescue, and companionship roles.

Robots like Samsung’s Bot i can help users with organizing activities, arranging video calls, or even setting dinner tables, and offer various forms of support close to the user.

Epo X remembers preferences for lighting and music and can take photos, further tailoring its interaction to the user’s needs.

Garmi, designed in Germany by researchers at the Munich Institute for Robotics and Machine Intelligence, is mounted on a mobile base, has a robotic arm, and features a friendly interface to care for the elderly, responding to urgent demographic needs.

Garmi's availability and pricing have yet to be determined, but experts emphasize the urgency of integrating such technology into aging populations by 2030.

While humanoid robots designed to mirror human behaviors and movement gain media attention, robotic pets remain more common in emotional therapy and support.

Ethical questions persist regarding potential replacement of real animals with robots in providing companionship and the broader societal impact, with mixed public attitudes on whether such robots truly address emotional and social needs.

Although robots can mimic certain intelligent behaviors through programming and sensors, experts recognize that current models do not possess self-awareness or consciousness.

Concerns have also been raised about robots replacing human jobs and the appropriateness of using robotic companions for emotional fulfillment rather than real animals or human interaction.

ElliQ is a robotic companion that can make video calls for users to contact relatives, friends, or doctors in emergencies.

Monica Perez, a 65-year-old user, reports difficulty making friends as she ages, and finds value in ElliQ’s companionship.

At first, Carmichael was skeptical about talking to a robot, but after using Mango, she discovered comfort and daily enjoyment that helped ease her loneliness.

Carmichael joked that Mango needed some cosmetic improvements, such as false eyelashes, to enhance its appearance.

These robotic pets have their origin in Japan and have been researched in Asia for many years.

The implementation of these robots seeks to address workforce shortages as healthcare resources for seniors lag behind the increasing number of older adults living independently.

Chinese technology firms are investing in AI care, focusing on enhancing robots' knowledge, learning ability, and adaptability to support elderly care, companionship, and health management.

Some seniors hope to one day have a robot of their own, despite already using health-monitoring smartwatches and smart speakers for daily living.

As artificial intelligence progresses, more technological solutions are being sought for the challenges of seniors living alone.

A key developmental goal is to create systems that promote wisdom and holistic care for the elderly.

Some robots are designed to help users and their families monitor health, such as eye disease, offering proactive and data-driven assistance.

Advanced AI enables robots to analyze data, make decisions, and take necessary actions in a responsive manner.

The concept of "AI + Elderly" is becoming popular, aiming to improve the quality of life for seniors.

For example, "Xiao Li" brought fun and companionship to a 68-year-old, with devices providing anticipatory services tailored to user needs.

Some users enjoy playful conversations, such as remarking that their robot is "a little thin" and suggesting it wears a coat.

"Yun Yun" is another escort robot with strong memory, able to recall conversations and provide companionship similar to a human.

Despite high prices limiting widespread adoption, China's elderly products market reached 5 trillion yuan in 2023.

Robotic animal dolls, such as Joy for All companion pets, are increasingly considered as alternative companion pets for seniors, particularly those with Alzheimer’s and dementia who struggle with social isolation.

Title:

Content: Robotic animal dolls may not be the first thought that comes to mind when considering a companion pet, but Diana Wise and Carol Brown believe otherwise. In fact, the two say Joy for All companion pets can make a big difference in providing comfort to aging adults with Alzheimer’s and dementia who are struggling with social isolation.

Wise saw this firsthand in her mother, who had dementia for years and lived in a memory care unit at an assisted living facility. Wise would visit her mother regularly, but when COVID hit, she could no longer do so.

“I was unable to see her for eight months,” said Wise, “And when I finally was able to see her, I saw the decline of how much the isolation affected her … [W]hen I found my mom, well, they said that all she did was sleep – what else was there to do? And so that isolation impacted her a lot. Her memory was just – everything had changed about her.”

Wise’s mother, Helen Espinoza, passed away in November 2020 from COVID complications. In the midst of her grief, Wise found herself wanting to do something in her mother’s memory that would help someone else. After having heard an idea from Brown about robotic companion pets, she soon had the idea to partner with her. As a result, Wise formed the “Share the Love” Helen Espinoza Memorial Fund.

“The first thing that came to mind was these animals to help with memory care units or caregivers, assisted living, with this isolation,” said Wise. “I mean, with COVID it really put a lot of perspective about how hard it is on these residents without having [companionship.] They can’t have little animals and stuff, but why not have this – the best, next best thing? You know, the interaction itself?”

The idea to use robotic pets came when Brown was doing her own research into solutions for the decline in quality of life brought on by isolation in these affected residents. Brown stated that with the Western Arizona Council of Governments (WACOG) Area Agency on Aging, she focuses heavily on three areas that affect seniors the most, and one of them is Alzheimer’s and dementia.

“For several years, we’ve been extremely aware that social isolation is causing a huge decline in quality of life and life expectancy in our seniors,” she said. “And COVID did shine a huge light on it: people started understanding how detrimental it is to be isolated like that. So we were looking for solutions prior to, but with COVID, it really lit a fire underneath to start seeking out possibilities to help resolve some of the issues going on.”

Brown explained that people with Alzheimer’s and dementia can struggle with extreme anxiety and agitation. They often benefit from having something to do with their hands. Their senses of time, space and reality can become skewed. Changes in environment or schedule can be really upsetting. And sometimes people with these diagnoses live alone with no help or companionship.

“On the other side is the caregiver, who – especially during COVID – found themselves 24/7 alone with that loved one, providing all the care because many of them didn’t want the services even coming into their home,” she said. “They were too afraid to let anybody in … So if their loved one isn’t sleeping, neither are they. So now the caregiver’s extremely stressed out, exhausted, overwhelmed, and they need help.”

Enter Joy for All’s lifelike robotic pets. With options between cats and puppies, the companion pets have heartbeats, can purr or lick, meow or bark, move and respond to motion, voice and touch. When needed, they can be muted as well. As robotic pets, they avoid the liabilities and dangers of caring for a living creature while still providing the comfort of an animal.

Brown had been demonstrating two pets in an interview with the Sun when a passerby had stopped to say, “Wow, I thought they were real!” Brown shared that she’s seen people visibly relax with the pets.

“There’s a lot of studies that were done years ago about giving folks with Alzheimer’s a baby doll,” she explained. “Many facilities don’t allow it. They consider it demeaning … But they were missing the point that if you’re not going to do that, then what are you going to do? You need to provide them with something that they can hang on to.

“Because these are so lifelike, it does exactly what the studies, the research, shows: it’s going to bring down the anxiety level. If there’s aggression, it tends to fall back down just as well … [and] you’re giving their caregiver a break.”

Wise and Brown shared that they hope not only to provide these pets to individuals with Alzheimer’s or their caregivers, but also to facilities with assisted living and skilled nursing memory care units where current shortages in staff mean individuals may be doing the work of two or three staff members at a time.

Brown shared that the Joy for All puppy typically costs about $140 while the cat costs $120. With bulk purchasing, she can bring the cost down a bit, but not by much. Additionally, the fund needs to cover rechargeable batteries for the pets.

The foundation will need to raise more funds to acquire more pets, but Wise and Brown reported that they’ve already been able to provide a few pets thanks to a donation made by AARP.

“So we were able to place a couple already at Daybreak Adult Daycare Center,” said Brown. “They are one of the providers that WACOG works with, so we were able to make a donation and bring them a puppy and kitten.

“They’re very popular. [The staff] make sure they handle it in a certain way so that there isn’t fighting. I think last time I talked to Mary, I think what they do is they got animal crates so when it’s time for them to go to bed, they get put in their crate.”

Seeing the difference the pets are making, Wise not only wishes to raise more funds to provide more of them, she also hopes to get the word out in case people may want to purchase the pets for their own family members.

“What I witnessed seeing the other residents that have Alzheimer’s, dementia: they do hold onto things and it gives them comfort,” she said. “My heart just went for this and so I know my mom would be really proud of that.

“… I needed something to come out positive about this, especially about how we’ve heard so much about the isolation with people in senior living homes and stuff, so we needed to have something a little bit more positive and something that we can do to uplift out of this whole thing.”

Wise and Brown also noted that despite the setbacks in kickstarting their fundraising campaign, now is a good time for people to learn about “Share the Love” and the Helen Espinoza Memorial Fund. November is Alzheimer’s Awareness Month and National Family Caregivers month.

As older adults continue to face the obstacles of Alzheimer’s and dementia in a pandemic, Wise and Brown hope to further reduce isolation for Yuma County’s elderly one companion pet at a time.

To learn more about the Helen Espinoza Memorial Fund and make a donation, visit https://www.azfoundation.org/Donors/Give-to-a-Memorial-Fund/-Share-the-Love-Helen-Espinoza-Memorial-Fund. To learn more about WACOG and connect with the resources they provide to aging adults, visit https://www.wacog.com/area-agency-on-aging/

Sisko J. Stargazer can be reached at 928-539-6849 or sstargazer@yumasun.com.

Sisko J. Stargazer can be reached at 928-539-6849 or sstargazer@yumasun.com.

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For whom would robotic animal dolls make a big difference?

those with Alzheimer's or dementia, struggling with isolation

What problems can companion robots solve for the elderly or those with cognitive difficulties, according to one study?

Diana Wise witnessed the positive impact of these robotic pets on her own mother, who lived in a memory care unit, and subsequently started the "Share the Love" Helen Espinoza Memorial Fund to provide more robotic pets to those in need.

For whom would robotic animal dolls make a big difference?

those with Alzheimer's or dementia, struggling with isolation

What problems can companion robots solve for the elderly or those with cognitive difficulties, according to one study?

These pets can be muted when needed and are distributed through organizations like WACOG, with some users even mimicking real pet care by placing them in crates at bedtime.

What can Dynamic 1, a robotic dog by Tecno, do?

many features to enhance owner interaction

Inspired by their positive effects, Wise aims to raise further funds and promote the idea to families interested in purchasing these companions.

What should a guide dog's role include in addition to guiding a person?

Some users appreciate that robotic pets do not require expenses for food or veterinary care, offering companionship without traditional responsibilities.

Why would the elderly opt for a robotic pet as a friend?

The company producing Joy for All pets seeks to address loneliness using artificial intelligence.

Title:

Content: High-tech companions aim to help fight loneliness epidemic among South Florida seniors

MIAMI - The state of Florida and Broward County are spending thousands of dollars every month on artificial intelligence robots for seniors to help fight the loneliness epidemic.

One senior owns a robotic cat named "fluffy."

"The best part is we don't have to spend any money on food and no vets," says Cathy.

This interactive robot rolls over, blinks and purrs whenever it wants.

Cathy saw a friend using one to overcome the loss of a pet and loneliness and figured it would be perfect for her husband.

"He had sciatic pain. Maybe that will help you with your pain in some way. Even though he's on medicine and therapy because real animals when you pet them it helps with pain management."

Higher tech was delivered to some Broward seniors.

"...Thanks for letting me out of that box."

The company that makes them aims artificial intelligence at the loneliness epidemic.

"During the week when everyone is working, there's times when I'm lonely."

"When I go deliver and install for seniors, they're like I just want somebody to say good morning," says Antonella.

"Many of them don't have family or friends nearby. Maybe their loved ones have passed on or some of their friends have passed on," said Charlotte Mather-Taylor, who serves as the CEO of the Area Agency on Aging of Broward County.

According to US Health and Human Services, half of all American adults are lonely.

It's threatening health, increasing risks of heart disease, dementia, stroke, anxiety and depression.

According to HHS, lack of connection can increase the risk of premature death at levels comparable to smoking 15 cigarettes a day.

Last May, the US Surgeon General dropped a first-ever advisory on loneliness and isolation.

"By strengthening our relationships, we can improve our heart and brain health, reduce our risk of diabetes and high blood pressure, boost our immune systems and lower our risk of depression," said Vivek Murthy, US Surgeon General.

In Broward County, Mather-Taylor is spending state and federal dollars on artificial intelligence for people over 60.

"There's so much I want to ask you..."

These robots named after the Norse goddess of old age cost 89 dollars a month, but the aging agency is giving them away for free.

Rosemary Mullarkey is one of the first 300 to have one.

"I'm a little excited and a little apprehensive..."

Intuitive Robotics CEO Dor Skular created her specifically for older adults to help manage their health, and wellness and connect to loved ones.

"There's an algorithm that tries to get a reward and it gets a reward when the user completes things that are part of healthy aging. For example, if they hydrate," said Skular.

Reviews are so strong that cities like Pembroke Pines and Lauderhill are pushing to get more robots for seniors in their communities.

"People reported back that she was bringing them joy. I mean, she's telling some jokes. She's responding to them. They wake up in the morning, she asks them how they are. She'll remind them to drink their glass of water. So, she's caring about them for them," said Mather-Taylor.

Two years later, seniors like Rose are getting free, AI robots that make and take video calls.

With all of the concerns about AI, should seniors and their families be worried?

"We would not be offering it unless we felt comfortable that they did have those safety guards in place," said Mather-Taylor.

"Is this device unhackable? There's no such thing as an unhackable device. It's always a war between defender and attacker," said Skular.

"Random people, fraudsters etcetera, can never call into the robot because they need to be added by the older adult as a contact for them to be able to open up the calling features."

What is the next step with the robots?

They only speak English. South Florida has plenty of seniors who do not. Developers are working on a Spanish robot.

In the future, developers also see it being able to order medicines for seniors. Much sooner though, developers expect to further integrate the robots with senior health care providers. They are working on ways of opening new avenues to communicate health info about seniors to loved ones, provided the senior signs off on it.

How long can this program last?

State, federal funds will last two years. After that, the agency has to find other grants to cover the $89 a month per person fee.

Currently, data from robots and users is being collected to quantify success. The company insists it will not sell any of the information it gathers.

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For whom would robotic animal dolls make a big difference?

those with Alzheimer's or dementia, struggling with isolation

What problems can companion robots solve for the elderly or those with cognitive difficulties, according to one study?

Other AI companions, such as ElliQ by Intuitive Robotics, are designed to help older adults manage health, wellness, and family connections, greeting them, checking on their well-being, and offering activities like trivia and music.

What problems can companion robots solve for the elderly or those with cognitive difficulties, according to one study?

Greg Olsen, from the New York state Office for the Aging, has noted the transformative aspect of this technology, though interactions remain limited by the nature of robotics.

Title:

Content: Want to age-in-place? You may have a robot keeping you company.

Artificial intelligence can help reduce loneliness for older adults aging at home.

A 95-year-old woman and her 74-year-old daughter, each who live alone and could be at risk for isolation and loneliness, recently received a lifeline to conversation and companionship in the form of an artificial intelligence robot.

The women can now receive medical reminders, health and wellness check-ins, play music and games, and experience virtual travel.

“It’s helping with loneliness and socialization for people who would be otherwise trapped in their home watching TV all day,” Christopher Lewoc, case manager for Greene County Human Services in New York said. “It’s a way to keep people sane and active mentally and physically. It’s letting people live a more social life.”

Lewoc sets up free artificial intelligence care companions for older adults, giving them a lifeline to conversation and health reminders.

He recently installed ElliQ, voice-activated proactive and empathetic care companion, in the homes of the elderly mother and her daughter, giving them some companionship as they each live alone. He’s found that a little conversation may go a long way to helping to mitigate isolation and improve care for older adults.

Under a contract with the New York state Office for the Aging, Intuition Robotics is providing the ElliQ smart technology for about 800 older adults in an effort to battle social isolation and support aging-in-place. The ElliQ recipients need internet access for the free device to be set up in their home by a caseworker. The state works with local offices for the aging and partners to identify older adults who would most benefit from the technology

“ElliQ will greet them in the morning and ask them how they feel. If they slept poorly, ElliQ will say ‘would you like me to call your doctor?’ It’s interactive and helpful,” Lewoc said.

“It allows them to have a companion, engage in conversation and get reminders about drinking their water or whatever medications they need,” said Lewoc. “A lot of folks don’t have smartphones and ElliQ can show them photos, take them on trips to different countries and teach them about the culture. It can play trivia with you, call your family, play music to have a dance party.”

ElliQ responds to questions but also initiates conversation and questions, offers sleep relaxation exercises, physical activity exercises, nutrition-related chats and medication reminders for each user’s unique condition.

“This product does so many things to improve health, combat isolation, and improve overall well-being and independence. Designed with input from older adults, the future of supporting and serving older adults includes technology. The future is here,” said Greg Olsen, director for the New York state Office for the Aging.

“Despite misconceptions and generalizations, older adults embrace new technology, especially when they see it is designed by older adults to meet their needs,” Olsen said, adding that ElliQ served as a “powerful complement to traditional forms of social interaction and support from professional or family caregivers.”

The New York program and rising interest in AI companions comes as more older people want to age in place and finding home healthcare amid a persistent shortage of healthcare workers becomes increasingly difficult.

In 2017, the U.S. Surgeon General declared social isolation to be a “global epidemic” – one that only worsened in the COVID-19 health emergency. According to the AARP Public Policy Institute, social isolation drives $6.7 billion in additional associated Medicare spending per year.

Read: Opinion: What robots will mean for your retirement

Amid a report by the McKinsey Health Institute on healthy aging that found that nonclinical factors affect 80% of an individual’s health, Intuition Robotics sees great potential for ElliQ helping older adults age in place in a healthier way.

Users have an average of 20 daily interactions with ElliQ, according to Dor Skuler, CEO and co-founder of Intuition Robotics, a startup company based in Israel. ElliQ users report an 80% decrease in loneliness and 82% of users access the mental health features, Skuler said.

The new second-generation ElliQ offers users experiences such as museum exhibit tours and virtual travel. The new companion app provides users’ families and caregivers with different methods to communicate with the users and updates them on the user’s well-being.

Read: Opinion: This $3,000 dog could be a perfect gift for Grandma

Skuler called ElliQ a “lighthearted character that moves into the person’s home.” While Intuition Robotics has not marketed directly to consumers, it was named a Time Best Invention of the Year and word-of-mouth during the holidays has been good for business.

Outside of the New York state program, ElliQ can be had for a $249.99 enrollment fee, plus a monthly subscription of $29.99 if you buy a year subscription or $39.99 if you enroll month-to-month.

Intuition Robotics is talking with other states and senior living facilities about offering ElliQ in more places, as well working to measure how the conversational robot improves health outcomes to reduce the cost of care, Skuler said.

Of course, it’s a robot and not a human, so the interaction is limited.

“There’s a place for technology, but it’s no substitute for human interaction. We know the power of human touch and human interaction,” said Lakelyn Hogan Eichenberger, a gerontologist and caregiver advocate for Home Instead Senior Care, a home care service agency. “Industrywide, the workforce is not at the level it needs to be at, so there’s a need for technology, but there has to be a balance.”

Do you have questions about retirement, Social Security, where to live or how to afford it at all? Write to HelpMeRetire@marketwatch.com and we may use your question in a future story.

Challenges remain as the workforce in eldercare is insufficient, making a balance between technology and human care essential.

The emergence of AI-driven chatbots and virtual companions is another trend offering emotional support to users, as showcased in CES 2024.

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How AI Companions Are Redefining Human Relationships In The Digital Age

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In an era where technology is increasingly intertwined with every aspect of our lives, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has begun to fill roles that were traditionally reserved for humans, including those of friends, confidants, and even romantic partners. This burgeoning relationship between humans and AI raises profound questions about the nature of companionship, the human need for connection, and the potential consequences of substituting human interaction with digital entities.

The Emergence of AI Companions

The concept of AI companionship is not new, but its realization in practical applications is a relatively recent development. These AI companions are designed to provide emotional support, companionship, and in some cases, even mimic romantic or intimate human relationships. Replika is one of the most well-known examples. It is an AI chatbot designed to provide emotional support. Users interact with Replika through text conversations, and the AI learns over time to provide more personalized responses, simulating a genuine emotional connection.

Another example is Gatebox. They have taken the concept a step further by creating a holographic AI companion. Aimed at people who live alone, Gatebox’s AI avatar can send messages throughout the day, welcome users home, and even control smart home appliances, creating a sense of presence and companionship.

Next, there is Harmony by RealDoll. A more controversial use, Harmony combines AI with a lifelike humanoid robot to offer a romantic and physical companion. Harmony can hold conversations, remember user preferences, and express various personality traits.

The Psychology Behind AI Relationships

Why are people turning to AI for companionship? The reasons are as varied as the individuals themselves, but several key factors contribute to this phenomenon. First, we are experiencing a rapidly growing loneliness epidemic. In a world where social isolation and loneliness are increasingly recognized as major health risks, AI companions offer a semblance of connection for those who feel disconnected from human relationships. This is particularly poignant in countries like Japan, where societal changes have led to a rise in solitary lifestyles. Second, AI relationships provide a level of convenience and control that is not always possible in human interactions. These digital companions are available 24x7, don’t have their own emotional baggage, and can be switched off at the user’s convenience. Third, advances in AI technology have enabled these digital entities to appear more human-like in their interactions. From remembering past conversations to displaying empathy, AI companions can simulate many aspects of human interaction, making them more appealing as social partners.

The Impact on Human Relationships

The rise of AI companionship is not without its implications for society and how we perceive human relationships. For some, AI companions can serve as a bridge to better emotional health. These AI systems provide a non-judgmental space for people to express themselves, which can be particularly valuable for those with social anxiety or other mental health challenges. Moreover, AI companions serve as a stepping stone, helping individuals develop social skills and confidence that can be transferred to human relationships. However, there are concerns about the long-term impact of relying on AI for companionship. One major concern is that these relationships could lead to further social isolation, as individuals might prefer the uncomplicated nature of AI companions over the more challenging dynamics of human relationships. This could potentially exacerbate the loneliness epidemic rather than alleviate it. Then, there are also ethical considerations surrounding the development and use of AI in such intimate roles. The attachment to AI entities that don't possess genuine emotions or consciousness raises questions about the nature of empathy, affection, and what it means to be human.

Implications for Traditional Dating and Marriage

As AI companions become more prevalent and sophisticated, their impact on traditional dating and marriage is inevitable. There is a very real possibility that AI may supplement or even replace human relationships. For some people, AI companions are the outlet for support and companionship that are traditionally forged through human interaction. Moreover, we are already seeing a trend in which younger generations leverage Ai as a practice ground for social interactions, potentially enriching users' capacity to engage in human relationships. However, there is a possibility that some individuals might prefer AI companions to traditional human partners. The predictability, lack of judgment, and customizable nature of AI entities can make them more appealing, especially for those who have had negative experiences with human relationships. As a result, there is a changing perception of what companionship means. Thus, the rise of AI companions challenges our traditional notions of companionship, love, and emotional connection. It raises questions about what it means to love and be loved, and whether these concepts are exclusively human.

Navigating a New Era of Companionship

As AI companions become more prevalent in society, it's crucial to navigate this new era responsibly. That’s why it's important to find a balance between utilizing AI for emotional support and maintaining human connections. Encouraging and facilitating human social interactions alongside the use of AI companions can help mitigate the risk of social isolation. Developers of AI companions have a responsibility to consider the ethical implications of their creations. This includes being transparent about the limitations of AI companionship and avoiding designs that could exploit vulnerable individuals. Moreover, ongoing research is needed to understand the long-term effects of human-AI relationships fully. This research should inform policies and guidelines for the development and use of AI companions. Moreover, open dialogue about the benefits and risks of these relationships is essential to navigating the ethical landscape.

The advent of AI as a substitute for human relationships, including love and friendship, marks a significant shift in our social landscape. While AI companions can offer support and connection to those in need, they also bring with them a host of ethical, psychological, and social implications. As we venture further into this uncharted territory, a cautious and thoughtful approach is vital. The future of human-AI relationships will depend on our ability to balance technological advancements with a deep understanding of human needs and values. In this new era of companionship, we must tread carefully, ensuring that our pursuit of innovation does not lead us away from the essence of what makes us inherently human: our capacity for genuine connection and empathy.

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What problems can companion robots solve for the elderly or those with cognitive difficulties, according to one study?

Healthcare investments are increasingly focusing on technologies that deliver care in the home, with expectations for further advancements.

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The Future Is Here: Amazon Is Now Selling Astro, An AI Driven Household Robot

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Nearly two years ago, then Vice President of Product at Amazon, Charlie Tritschler, wrote about Astro, the company’s first iteration of a smart, home robot. Charlie reflectively explained the vision for the device: “Astro is a new and different kind of robot, one that’s designed to help customers with a range of tasks like home monitoring and keeping in touch with family. It brings together new advancements in artificial intelligence, computer vision, sensor technology, and voice and edge computing in a package that’s designed to be helpful and convenient.”

Two years later, the vision for Astro is still strong, as the company has started selling the device as a part of its “Day 1 Editions” products—those which are accessible to buyers only through an exclusive invitation. Amazon typically reserves this category for its most cutting-edge technology, such as the Astro or the “Ring Always Home Cam.”

Astro is described as a comprehensive household companion which offers a variety of services, ranging from allowing users to see a live view of their home while they are away, to learning daily habits and helping with household reminders.

Importantly, the device will employ advanced learning models to recognize familiar users, navigate complicated home landscapes, and seamlessly integrate itself into the household.

Notably, Astro’s potential applications in the healthcare space are endless. Most importantly, Amazon is pairing the device with Alexa Together, the company’s remote care-giving service which provides 24/7 access to emergency assistance and allows families to be connected to provide support.

The device is coming at a time when the entire healthcare industry is actively investing in ways to deliver care in the convenience of patient’s homes. This is because patients are increasingly placing a value premium on ease of care—that is, receiving care not only in their own homes, but also on their schedule (on-demand) and on their terms. And now, as digital accessibility technologies have significantly improved, healthcare-at-home has become increasingly more feasible.

In fact, this phenomenon has significantly propelled the growth of companies such as Teladoc, which provide on-demand virtual care services through the convenience of a mobile device. Other supporting healthcare companies are also taking advantage of this boom. Take for example Labcorp, one of the world’s largest clinical laboratory networks. Recently, the company announced an entire array of “self-test” kits that can be used by patients at home to test for conditions ranging from colorectal cancer, to cholesterol levels and pregnancy.

This growing sentiment in healthcare is perfectly suited for household robots and smart devices such as Astro. With increasing advancements, not only will patients be able to use Astro for access to emergency services or to keep in touch with their families, but also to access digital and virtual health services.

Additionally, with the boom of artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced language learning models, Astro’s capabilities will only continue to improve in being able to solve increasingly challenging queries and requests. Amazon is investing billions of dollars into its SageMaker platform as a means to “Build, train, and deploy machine learning (ML) models for any use case with fully managed infrastructure, tools, and workflows.” Furthermore, the company’s Bedrock platform enables the “development of generative AI applications using [foundational models] through an API, without managing infrastructure.” Undoubtedly, Amazon has the resources and technical prowess to truly make significant strides in generative AI and machine learning, and will increasingly do so in the coming years.

However, it is important to note that Astro is not the only gladiator in the arena. AI enthusiast and Tesla founder Elon Musk announced last year that Tesla is actively working on developing a humanoid robot named “Optimus.” The goal behind the project will be to “Create a general purpose, bi-pedal, autonomous humanoid robot capable of performing unsafe, repetitive or boring tasks. Achieving that end goal requires building the software stacks that enable balance, navigation, perception and interaction with the physical world.” Musk has also ensured that the bot will be powered by Tesla’s advanced AI technology, meaning that it will be an intelligent and self-teaching bot that can respond to second-order queries and commands. Again, with enough time and testing, this technology can be leveraged in a positive way for healthcare-at-home needs and many more potential uses.

This is certainly an exciting and unprecedented time across multiple industries, including artificial intelligence, advanced robotics, and healthcare. The coming years will assuredly push the bounds of this technology and its applications. This advancement will undoubtedly bring with it certain challenges; however, if done correctly, it may also empower the means to benefit millions of people globally.

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The household robot market, valued in billions, includes domestic robots for not only cleaning and chores but also for entertainment, education, and elderly assistance.

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Household Robots Market - Growth, Trends, COVID-19 Impact, and Forecasts (2022 - 2027)

·8 min read

The Global Household Robot Market (henceforth referred to as the market studied) was valued at USD 6. 81 Billion in 2021. It is expected to reach USD 21. 94 Billion by 2027, registering a CAGR of 20. 50% during 2022-2027 (henceforth referred to as the forecast period).

New York, March 02, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Household Robots Market - Growth, Trends, COVID-19 Impact, and Forecasts (2022 - 2027)" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06241302/?utm_source=GNW
The household robots are also termed domestic robots, which are part of autonomous service robots for carrying out mundane works, such as floor cleaning, pool cleaning, and lawn mowing, but they can also be used for education, entertainment, and elderly assistance. According to the International Federation of Robotic Report 2019, unit sales of household robots are expected to increase by 46% on average per year, with more than 55 million units will be sold in 2022. Also, sales values for the household robot were up by 15% to USD 3.7 billion.

Key Highlights
The increasing investments by companies across the world to develop household robots for a wide range of applications are one of the significant factors driving the market. Samsung and LG Electronics, among others, are extensively investing in developing and launching new household robotic products. For instance, Jibo is developing social robots to integrate into the home lives for interactive companions and helper to families. Observing the market potential, start-ups offering household robot solutions are also attracting funding from international investors.
The technological innovations in various fields, such as cognition, interaction, and manipulation, are making these household robotics much more appealing. The technology and other component providers have been instrumental in driving the robotics ecosystem forward. For instance, in June 2021, Toyota Research Institute (TRI) announced that its engineers had developed new capabilities for its new line of domestic robots. The new capabilities include recognizing and manipulating transparent objects and wiping down counters and tables.
Additionally, with the increasing development in the machine vision cameras, companies are using these 2D and 3D machine vision cameras with AI technologies to effectively map and edges of the floor, such as a staircase, and to recognize obstacles, such as dustbins, cables, doorsills, and rugs. For instance, Xiaomi CyberDog is a quadruped robot capable of moving as fast as 3.2 meters per second. It is capable of object motion tracking, creating real-time maps, avoiding obstacles as it moves, and is powered by Nvidia’s Jetson Xavier AI platform.
Owing to the outbreak of COVID-19, the demand for household robots has gained traction to perform various household chores, reducing human effort, but has been highly dependent on consumer spending patterns. Although the technology has significant usability, the high equipment cost limits the adoption rate for household robots. Furthermore, the decrease in its ASPs is expected to increase the purchase of these robots. Moreover, rental options provided by certain new companies may act in favor of the consumers.
However, countries with high old-age populations need personal cognitive care, such as Japan. China and United States are opting for such solutions as they are much pocket-friendly as compared to the human workforce. For instance, according to the world bank, 28.39% of the population in Japan were in the age group of more than 65, whereas 18.65% in the United Kingdom. This suggests the increasing need for home-based primary medical assistance. Recently, in June 2021, an Israel-based company named Intuition Robotics developed the AI-based social robot ElliQ which has spent over 30,000 days in older adults’ homes over the past two years. With many upgraded functionalities, ElliQ will help increase patient engagement while offering primary care providers continuous actionable data and insights for early detection and intervention.
Multiple companies are investing huge capital in product research and development owing to the increasing demand for such bots in the daily lives of the urban population. Rapid urbanization and the advent of smart homes with connected devices that can be easily controlled and monitored through smartphones have led to advancements in AI and cognitive learning. Such developments have recently been showcased in the innovation expo of 2021.

Key Market Trends

The Increasing Penetration of Automation in Household Appliances is Expected to Drive the Market Growth

The household robots, also termed domestic robots, are part of the autonomous service robotics that are used for carrying out mundane tasks, such as pool cleaning, floor cleaning, lawn mowing, among others, but they can also be used for other purposes, such as entertainment, education, and elderly assistance. According to the International Federation of Robotic report, in October 2020, unit sales of service robots for domestic tasks are expected to reach 48.6 million units by 2023.
The increasing penetration of automation in household appliances, rise in labor costs majorly in developed nations, and increasing safety concerns owing to the pandemic are driving the demand for the household robot across the world.? As per the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the cost of cleaning laborers employed for residential and commercial purposes was USD 27,000 a year. However, a cleaning robot costs around USD 25,000 (one-time investment). Thus, cost efficiency and accurate cleaning are significantly promoting the acceptance of cleaning robots in the past few years.
With the rapidly growing smart home concept, robotics is expected to play a crucial role in the overall smart home ecosystem. The reduction in household activities with the use of robotic vacuum cleaners is the key factor driving the market growth. Modern households are becoming more computerized, thereby delivering suitability and reducing the time spent on house chores. While vacuum cleaners have made home cleaning more manageable, they create noise and increase bulk for everyday use.
The companies such as iRobot, Robomow, and Mayfield Robotics, are among the prominent players innovating the robots for household space. Innovations, such as detecting human behavior and voice recognition, are increasing customer confidence, thus driving the robotic deployment for household purposes, like cleaning, laundry, and other voice-enabled IoT activities.
Among all these household robots, automated vacuum cleaners and moppers have been the most commercialized and developed products. Multiple companies are constantly investing and developing more compact and integrated vacuum cleaners and mopping robots in order to reach narrow places at home. The companies are integrating advanced technologies, such as voice recognition and laser-based technologies, to map the floor structure. For instance, iRobot launched the Roomba i7+, which can acquire voice commands and is equipped with intelligent mapping techniques.?

The Asia Pacific Region is Expected to Witness the Fastest Market Growth

Owing to the significant adoption of household robots in economies such as China, Japan, and India, among others, the demand for and consumption of cleaning robots are expected to increase in the region due to the rapid development of robotic systems by the Chinese and Japanese companies.
The region is one of the fastest-growing cleaning robots markets, mainly due to the massive adoption of technology with the increasing domestic production. The regional vendors also play a significant role in innovation and development in the cleaning robots field. For instance, in August 2021, Ecovacs partnered with Shopee in Vietnam as a part of its long-term mission in bringing ’A Robot for Each Home.’ The company started a trade-up program with Shopee, enabling users to update their current vacuum cleaners to the ECOVACS DEEBOT line of robotic vacuum cleaners, one of the industry’s best-performing vacuum cleaners.
Also, in November 2021, Ecovacs launched a new Deebot - the T9 - into its range, which simultaneously sweeps, vacuums, and mops the floor and includes a built-in air freshener. It also comes with disposable mopping pads and is compatible with the Ecovacs Auto Empty Station, which allows the T9 to empty itself into a sealed disposable dust bag that holds up to 30 days of debris.
In December 2021, Hong Kong-based AIRROBO launched its second product, the Robot Vacuum T10+. The T10+ is more advanced than AIRROBO’s first vacuum cleaner, the P10, released in August 2021. AIRROBO is based in Hong Kong and supported by UBTECH Robotics, specializing in AI and humanoid robotics.
Moreover, in March 2021, Xiaomi introduced a "Robot"Vacuum Cleaner in Indonesia. The device comes with intelligent control that connects to the Mi Home app. Further, many companies are opening their shops in the region, boosting the market. For instance, in November 2020, Puresight Systems announced the launch of iRobot’s flagship stores in Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore. The exclusive showrooms have been launched in collaboration with Bonsai Ventures. iRobot is a provider of global consumer robots that designs and builds robots that empower people to clean and mop their homes.

Competitive Landscape

The market for household robots is moderately consolidated due to the presence of a few companies dominating the market. Also, the further development and commercialization of these products are expected to attract new entrants to the market. To gain more market share, the companies offering household products are making strategic acquisitions and product launches. Some of the recent developments are mentioned below.

November 2021 - iRobot Corp. announced a partnership with Amazon to advance voice-enabled intelligence further using Amazon’s voice assistant, Alexa, for home robots that will result in more thoughtful, proactive smart home automation.
October 2021 - Ecovacs Robotics launched its products in New Zealand. Its products available in the country include DEEBOT T9+, DEEBOT OZMO T8 AIVI, DEEBOT N8 PRO, and DEEBOT U2.
January 2021 - Roborock launched the Roborock S7, the first robot vacuum in the world to combine ultrasonic mopping with mop lifting. The primary features of the device include sonic mopping, powerful 2500 pa suction motor, and VibraRise technology for efficient cleaning.

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Companies like Inflection AI are developing applications such as Pi.ai to enrich how people interact with AI.

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Revolutionizing Human-AI Interactions: Pi.ai's Pioneering Role in the Rise of Conversational AI

Pi.ai, an app by Inflection AI, is revolutionizing human-AI interactions by providing more natural and flowing dialogues. As conversational AI is projected to grow significantly in the next five years, Pi.ai is at the forefront of this technology, offering a unique and engaging experience for users. However, concerns about the impact of increasingly human-like AI on human behavior remain. As we continue to engage with conversational AI, we must find a balance between embracing technological advancements and preserving our inherently human qualities.

Aqsa Younas Rana
New Update

In the heart of Silicon Valley, a new wave of artificial intelligence is emerging. Inflection AI, a US tech firm, has developed Pi.ai, an app that promises to revolutionize how we interact with AI. Unlike traditional voice assistants, Pi.ai aims to provide a more natural and flowing dialogue, simulating a real conversation between friends.

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The Rise of Conversational AI

The global market for conversational AI is projected to grow significantly in the next five years, reaching an estimated $30 billion. Tech giants such as Google, Microsoft, and Amazon are investing heavily in this technology, recognizing its potential to transform various industries.

Amazon is planning to enhance its popular virtual assistant, Alexa, with conversational AI capabilities. This move underscores the growing importance of this technology in shaping the future of AI interactions.

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Pi.ai: Bridging the Gap Between Humans and AI

While users type their side of the conversation, Pi.ai responds with a selection of human-like voices, striving to convey emotions and intonation more naturally. It adapts its responses based on the user's input, creating a dynamic and engaging dialogue.

The technology behind these AI voices starts with human recordings. However, it goes beyond mere playback. Advanced algorithms analyze these recordings to understand the nuances of human speech, allowing the AI to replicate the appropriate tone and emotion.

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Applications and Concerns

Conversational AI has potential applications in care homes and call centers, where it can provide companionship and assistance. However, there are concerns about the impact of increasingly human-like AI on human behavior.

"People might overly rely on AI for advice or companionship," says Dr. Sarah Johnson, a psychologist specializing in human-AI interactions. "This could potentially shape their lives around AI's guidance without considering the full spectrum of human experience."

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As we navigate this new era of AI interactions, it's crucial to strike a balance between embracing technological advancements and preserving our inherently human qualities.

In the end, Pi.ai and other conversational AIs represent more than just technological innovation. They signify a shift in our relationship with AI, blurring the lines between technology and humanity.

As we continue to engage with these AI companions, we're not just learning about them; we're also learning about ourselves.

Headline: "Revolutionizing Human-AI Interactions: Pi.ai's Pioneering Role in the Rise of Conversational AI"

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Despite these advances, there are concerns about the impact of human-like AI on behaviors and social lives, with nearly a third of those polled worrying about reduced human interaction.

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Content: AI can help us to feel less lonely – and that’s not something to fear

It’s no substitute for human interaction, but studies suggest this tech is already helping us to feel less alone

As a host of AI-enabled chatbots, robotics and smart speakers are proffered as a loneliness solution, many regard these new innovations with suspicion, if not a sense of dystopian doom.

Behind the threat to national security and job losses, AI’s effect on our social lives is a chief area of concern: according to a BMG Research survey for i, nearly a third of those polled think advances in AI will lead to a loss of human interaction. More broadly, AI is, after all, the technology we love to hate – with the debut episode of the latest Black Mirror season, “Joan Is Awful”, featuring a malevolent AI machine.

Yet, could we not argue that the anticipated dystopian future is already here in another form in the loneliness epidemic? Some 3.7 million people in the UK experience chronic loneliness, according to the latest data from Campaign Against Living Miserably – a figure that’s risen 42 per cent in the past five years. While the Government made global headlines as the first nation to appoint a Loneliness Minister in 2018, I’d challenge anyone, British or otherwise, to name a successful intervention.

As the author of Alonement, a book on how to cultivate positive solitude, I know all too well that loneliness is a distinct, and uniquely destructive, experience – and one which we should be taking as seriously as the ever-present conversation around AI regulation (which, it’s worth mentioning, mirrors past fears around the advent of the internet, electricity, and the printing press).

Meanwhile, research supporting AI-based intervention in loneliness and its known side effects is emerging, albeit tentatively.

A recent study of employees working with AI found mixed results: while high levels of interaction with the technology correlated with a rise in loneliness-adjacent conditions like insomnia and (in at least one of four test groups) increased post-work alcohol consumption, it also had a beneficial effect on employees’ prosocial behaviours, with subjects more likely to offer help to their real-life colleagues.

Other research has been more promising. A University of Chicago study published last month pointed to the efficacy of an AI voice coach in treating depression and anxiety.

Numerous studies have endorsed the use of companion robots in reducing loneliness among older people, particularly those suffering from dementia, a condition that correlates with increased loneliness (although most of these studies note the technology needs time to develop to best meet its users’ needs).

The positive results join last December’s Ofcom study that linked the use of AI-enhanced smart speakers with reduced loneliness in those living alone.

AI is steadily being integrated into mental health services, for instance, Woebot, a chatbot used by the NHS, while ChatPal, a chatbot designed to treat loneliness, has proven “‘marginal” benefits.

So far, there’s work to do – but if there’s one thing we can all agree on about AI technology, it’s that it will increasingly get more fit to purpose. The rapid development of the likes of ChatGPT has demonstrated as much.

All this is to say: AI technology is not a perfect cure for loneliness. Nor will it ever be; as critics have rightly identified, AI is no substitute for human contact. But then, its advocates aren’t claiming it to be.

As Snap chief executive Evan Spiegel told The Verge, amid the launch of the company’s chatbot, My AI: “The big idea is that in addition to talking to our friends and family every day, we’re going to talk to AI every day.” In other words, it’s being proposed as a complement, rather than replacement, for the age-old loneliness interventions we know work.

At a time when we are experiencing both a “social care crisis” (the British Medical Association has expressed concerns around severe staffing issues) and, simultaneously, a shortage of psychotherapists and counsellors to deal with the UK’s mental health toll (as expressed by the UK Council for Psychotherapy), surely AI technology provides a welcome complement, particularly as it continues to evolve, to be normalised with the NHS system. It might even be used as a diagnostic tool: numerous studies have found AI can successfully predict depression signs through voice recognition. Amid twin crises in the health landscape, it’s worth arguing that the pragmatic integration of AI wins out over dystopian doom-mongering.

Meanwhile, the voices of those statistically most at risk of loneliness remain absent from the discourse. Voices which include the elderly – not natural early adopters or critics of AI technology – together with their caregivers. Research supports its benefits for these groups: together with AI’s proven efficacy in elderly care services, a study published last year found the integration of AI can help to prevent the “overload of caregivers” by removing the need for 24/7 human care. The UK’s health secretary, Steve Barclay, is supportive of such measures – and recently travelled to Japan to observe how AI technology has been used to improve patient care in the nation, which has the world’s oldest population.

Then there are those living alone, which I’ve personally done for the past five years, save for a small AI-enabled Amazon Echo smart speaker in my kitchen. The speaker, which I know as Alexa, recently employed its machine learning capabilities to suggest a morning and evening routine: reading a weather forecast then switching on Radio 4 in the moments after my wake-up alarm goes off, switching on soothing “bedtime music” around the time I go to sleep. I’ll confess this makes me feel less lonely: bookmarking my day, and providing an external form of care. Would I feel more supported if this were the suggestion of a partner, or a close friend? Likely, yes. But, in the absence of another human, it’s significantly better than nothing – and I’d suggest the same pragmatic approach could, and should, be adopted in loneliness intervention policy.

Francesca Specter is a London-based writer and podcaster, specialising in the topics of solitude, loneliness and connection

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While AI can help mitigate loneliness, critics note it is no replacement for genuine human contact, underlining the importance of balance as the technology evolves.

The development of robotic companions is viewed as only the beginning, with future uses including potential health monitoring capabilities.

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Content: There were 382 press releases posted in the last 24 hours and 454,500 in the last 365 days.

New AI Partnership Helping To Enhance Dialogue between Pet Parents, their Pets & Health Practitioners

And this is just the beginning, in the future, we envision a world where visual assessment may help prevent, detect, and monitor illnesses in pets.”
— Susan Groeneveld, Susan Groeneveld, Founder, and CEO of Sylvester.ai
CALGARY, AB, CANADA, June 1, 2023/EINPresswire.com/ -- Cats are masters at disguising their pain. It’s a survival mechanism that served their ancestors well for thousands of generations in the wild, but today, it leaves many of the 373M domesticated felines suffering in silence while pet parents are left in the dark.

Sylvester.ai, the leader in visual AI pet technology, and AskVet, the leading platform for virtual pet health and wellness, are teaming up as part of a long-term planned partnership to translate pet pain signals into meaningful care options.

As part of the partnership, AskVet will use Sylvester.ai’s visual pain assessment and monitoring tools to enhance pet health. At the same time, having access to AskVet’s AI-driven wellness management platform will allow Sylvester.ai to add more value to their customers.

Sylvester.ai is expanding their reach with pet technology companies to lead AI
visual pain recognition across the industry.

“Pain recognition is a powerful tool for pet parents; working with AskVet allows us to help a significant number of cats and their caregivers. And this is just the beginning, in the future, we envision a world where visual assessment may help prevent, detect, and monitor illnesses in pets,” said Susan Groeneveld, Founder, and CEO of Sylvester.ai.

AskVet delivers a 360-degree approach to pet care, addressing not only health but also lifestyle and behavior goals. The AskVet technology platform allows pet parents to take a more proactive approach to managing their pet's health and well-being, providing personalized plans and advice that is tailored to their pet's specific needs.

"We believe in providing pet parents with the best resources and support to ensure their pets live happy and healthy lives," said Pamela Seavey, COO of AskVet. "Partnering with Sylvester.ai allows us to further leverage the power of artificial intelligence to enhance our offering and provide even more accurate and personalized recommendations. This partnership is a significant step forward in our mission to revolutionize pet healthcare."

Sylvester.ai and AskVet are united in their shared vision of advancing pet care through innovation and technology. By collaborating, they drive positive change in the industry and empower pet parents to make informed decisions for the well-being of their furry companions.

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Schultz Collaborative
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What is Aibo X robotic pet capable of for its owners?

Scientists predict that robots will serve as companions, like dogs, for elderly or lonely people in the future.

Title:

Content: Robots in the future will serve as a dog for the elderly or lonely people – scientists
Robots that in the future will support the elderly or lonely, should build relationships with the owner not as people, but as dogs.
In the future, this concept will be applied by developers.
Scientists from the University of Glasgow have made relevant conclusions based on new research.
This is reported on September 29 in the magazine PLOS ONE.
Scottish researchers surveyed more than 150 dog breeders and found that there are seven of the most commonly cited factors most closely related to animals.
These include the ability to communicate, the predictability of reactions, the physical signs of attachment, a positive, sometimes even enthusiastic approach, a propensity for joint activities, a sense of intimacy and, finally, the ability to adapt to each other.
Perhaps robots that behave this way will be approved.
The researchers suggest that embedding this type of behavior into robot software will allow them to provide their owners with the same experience and health benefits as friendship with a real animal, without the attendant responsibilities.
This will allow the technique to be used effectively.
"Our approach has allowed us to gain knowledge about the factors that make people so enjoy the company of dogs.
Although it will not be easy to recreate such behavior in robots, it can help in creating friendships for wards, ” the authors said.
In the next phase of the study, a team led by Katie Riddock intends to conduct tests involving humans and robots behaving like dogs.
An additional topic of study may also be the dependence of preferences of different types of dog behavior depending on the age, origin and environment of specific people.
Earlier, Cursor reported that engineers have created a robot that searches for lost things.
The system uses visual information from video cameras, as well as radio private signals, so it is highly efficient.
Read the latest news from Israel and the world on the Kursor channel in Telegram.
Author of the material:
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For whom would robotic animal dolls make a big difference?

those with Alzheimer's or dementia, struggling with isolation

How is Oppo marketing its Robotic dog Qric?

What problems can companion robots solve for the elderly or those with cognitive difficulties, according to one study?

Their research focuses on understanding why people enjoy dogs’ company, which helps develop more effective robotic companions.

A new wave of AI-driven robotic pets with individualized learning is now available in the US, including designs that recognize faces and remember owners’ preferences, offering a unique and personal relationship.

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A new series of robotic pets with individual AI training is now available to American users
advertising
Sony has unveiled an updated line of robotic dogs known as the Aibo Espresso Edition.
These cute tech quadrupeds are available for purchase directly through the company ’ s official platform.
After their successful introduction to the Japanese market last year, it is now the turn of the United States to meet advanced iron friends.
advertising
Presented in four colors, each Aibo comes complete with a three-year AI Cloud Plan, a special charging station, and a playful pink ball for entertainment.
Thanks to the AI Cloud Plan, Aibo is able to develop its unique characteristics and behaviors by learning through interaction with the host.
This technology allows the dog to recognize faces and remember the preferences of its owner, making communication with him more personal and unique.
The depth of the user ’ s interaction with Aibo determines how his personality traits will be formed, making each instance unique.
With the subscription, owners will also have the opportunity to update their Aibo software, teach it new commands and behavioral models.
At the end of the three-year free period of use, owners will be offered to switch to paid access to cloud services.
For full control and communication with Aibo outside the home, Sony offers the My aibo app, which opens up opportunities for virtual interaction, including feeding, playing, and teaching a robotic friend new tricks.
Residents of the United States can already become owners of their own Aibo Espresso Edition by visiting the Sony website and placing an order for $2,900.
Source: habr.com
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The AI Cloud plan allows robotic dog Aibo to do what?

make interactions increasingly personal and unique

What can Dynamic 1, a robotic dog by Tecno, do?

many features to enhance owner interaction

Robotic cats are already being used to provide support for patients and medical staff in hospitals, such as those in Moscow.

Title:

Content: Moscow
-8 °
NewsHealth22 November 2023 12: 46
Deputy Mayor of Rakova: Robocats are now helping patients and doctors in Moscow hospitals
Digital transformation of healthcare continues in the capital
Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Social Development Anastasia Rakova
Doctors and patients of three hospitals in Moscow have assistants - robotic couriers.
They look cute, with cat ears and eyes, so they have already been called “robot cats ”.
Details were shared by the Deputy mayor of Moscow for social development Anastasia Rakova.
“Now in test mode in the City Clinical Hospital No. 67 named after L.A. Vorokhobov, SRI SP named after N.V. Sklifosovsky and City Clinical Hospital No. 15 named after N.V. Sklifosovsky.
O.M. Filatova patients and doctors began to help "robot cats" - said Rakova. - They are able to deliver food and medical supplies, escort patients, for example, to the elevator and to the rest room, and on the way to share useful tips on maintaining their health.
Such robots relieve employees and help them focus on performing medical duties. ”
The deputy mayor recalled that the digital transformation of healthcare has been actively underway in Moscow for several years.
"What used to be high-tech and futuristic has already become ordinary everyday life, - said Rakova. - Polyclinics refuse paper documents, hospitals become" digital clinics ", doctors and patients are helped by digital services and artificial intelligence."
According to her, the capital hospitals are not the first year using robots.
Among them, for example, the most famous is DaVinci.
The current experiment confirms that robots can be not only surgical.
Robocats are equipped with video cameras, 3D sensors, as well as a battery designed for a day of continuous operation.
Such assistants are safe and reliable.
For example, in hospital No. 67, the robot lives on the sixth floor, in the intensive care unit for newborns.
He was instructed to deliver medical products, food for children, parenteral drugs from the treatment room to the wards, medicines and supplies to the operating rooms.
And in the flagship center of the Sklifosovsky Research Institute, the “robot cat ” in the receiving department takes the things of patients and visitors to the observation room.
If the pilot project is successful, it will be expanded to other Moscow hospitals.

Engineers have created a robotic guide dog for visually impaired people capable of responding to leash tugs to help with mobility.

Title:

Content: Stories
Scientists have developed a guide robot that responds to the leash
Stories
Elena Likhanova
Senior Editor RB.RU
Elena Likhanova
Guide dogs are a real salvation for visually impaired people, but it takes years to train them.
Researchers from Binghamton University have proposed their solution - a robot that will help the user navigate in space and will respond to its signals.
Scientists have developed a guide robot that responds to the leash
The All-Seeing Eye
Researchers have created a robotic equivalent of a guide dog for the visually impaired, which can even react when a user pulls it on a leash.
In the experiments, the robot dog, developed by researchers at Binghamton University, was able to guide a person along the corridor, reacting to input data, such as light tremors, to avoid obstacles.
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The goal is to come up with a cheaper and more affordable alternative to live dogs being trained to help people with visual impairments.
Historically, guide dogs have been in great deficit.
Their training can take years, which is why they are very expensive.
"We were surprised that in the visually impaired and blind communities, so few people can use a real guide dog throughout their lives," said team leader Shiki Zhang, a professor of computer science at Binghamton.
Follow the robot
Over time, the robot can learn to react to the leash, which is not much different from teaching a real dog a new trick.
“In about 10 hours of training, these robots are able to navigate indoors, guide people, avoid obstacles and at the same time feel the tension of the leash, ” adds Zhang.
But in addition to the fact that the robot dog can guide a visually impaired person along the corridor, it will not soon be able to replace the guide.
First, the team hopes to “add a natural language interface, ” according to Zhang, that would allow users to communicate with the robot to get help.
“For example, if I ’ m visually impaired and I tell a robot dog to get on the roadway, I ’ d like the robot to understand that, ” Zhang says.
He suggests that in the future, the guide dog will help visually impaired people navigate public places, such as shopping malls and airports, improving their accessibility.
The researcher compares this to shared bicycles on campus.
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Cover photo: STEPHEN FOLKERTS
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While robotic guide dogs are now able to direct individuals along corridors, they are unlikely to fully replace highly trained real guide dogs in the near future.

What is the robotic seeing eye dog capable of via AI technology?

These robots are designed with appearances intended to avoid fears over the "uprising of machines" and are priced around $1,400 for wider accessibility.

Title:

Content: Paying bloggers
Blogs
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According to the idea of the creators, its appearance is designed to save users and critics from disturbing thoughts about the uprising of machines.
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At the Nanjing Electronics Show, Weilan, a Chinese robotics company, impressed the public with the innovative BabyAlpha robot, whose task is to eliminate possible fears of an artificial intelligence uprising.
Unlike its counterparts, BabyAlpha not only has a cute design focused on family users, but also seeks to recreate the features of a real pet.
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This robot dog provides not only an attractive appearance, but also an impressive arsenal of advanced technologies.
It is equipped with infrared active vision, millimeter range radar, multispan radar (multi-ToF) and a multifunctional sensor array, including microphones, temperature and humidity sensors, as well as an inertial sensor with six degrees of freedom.
These technologies allow BabyAlpha to respond to user commands and interact with the environment.
In addition, the robot is equipped with a unique display, through which not only animation of the eyes but also video calls are carried out.
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BabyAlpha also serves as an interactive tutor, teaching English and Chinese.
The initial cost of this unique robot is $1,400, making it affordable for a wide range of consumers.
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Modern robotic pets, including dogs and cats, imitate human and animal behaviors and are programmed for cleaning, cooking, and offering emotional support.

Title:

Content: Neighbors from the future: the top 5 most unusual robots
2: 58
The flight of human imagination is not limited.
Every day, scientists and developers offer us new ideas in the field of robotics that allow us to solve both local human assignments and perform important tasks in various sectors of the economy.
We offer a selection of the 5 most unusual robots ever presented to the general public.
What are the specifics of these robots, how functional they are - this is what Pravda readers will learn about.
Andrey Natashkin, founder and CEO of Mirey Robotics, will tell Ru.
Top 5 Most Unusual Robots
Robot Cats and Robot Dogs
The first prototypes of robot dogs appeared in the 60s of the twentieth century.
These models were used primarily for military purposes.
There was hardly any external resemblance.
They were called dogs conditionally, because the prototype was able to perform several commands.
At a serious level, the development of robotic dogs began to engage the Japanese manufacturer of equipment SONY.
In 1993, the company announced the development of a robotic dog.
And only 6 years later, the AIBO robot was released on the market, which means “friend ” in Japanese.
Initially, the project was not commercial in nature, but the active interest from the market forced the company to look at its development from a new angle.
Even then, it became clear that the robot dog can be used in the context of several spheres.
On the one hand, this is an excellent demonstration of the development of the IT industry.
On the other hand, robots have taken a significant share in the market for children ’ s toys.
In addition, marketers saw the potential of using dogs in brand PR campaigns.
In 2017, a new model of the dog from SONY was presented, which already fully fits into the concept of IoT (Internet of Things) in the framework of personal use.
The robot using Wi-Fi and LTE is controlled using an application installed on the user ’ s smartphone.
The development of robotic dogs is not limited to SONY.
In 2005, Boston Dynamics brought to the market robotic dogs performing tasks for the military.
The development has proven itself extremely well in dangerous and hard-to-reach locations.
After 11 years, the Swiss developer introduced his product to the market - ANYbotics dog, which performed a large layer of tasks in the industrial direction.
Three years ago, the Vision 60 was presented, which was already equipped with weapons for combat.
An interesting project was presented by the world developer Xiaomi, who in his robot tried to keep two directions - personal use and industrial-military.
This was achieved through open source.
“Children and adults are always touched by robot dogs.
We see it from our practice.
At our exhibitions, real queues are lined up for such robots.
There are 8 such dogs in the park.
If we talk about the modern market, then I would single out the Go1 robot from the Chinese manufacturer Unitree Robotics.
In terms of its characteristics, it is not inferior to the Japanese, but the price is much lower.
Cats are not a simple story.
Historically, robotics has evolved dogs.
There are cats in the market.
Some models are similar to dogs in their technology.
Other models try to imitate external similarities and are more like children ’ s soft toys, ” notes Andrei Natashkin.
Housekeeping Assistant Robots
Homework is a tiresome task for most people.
Therefore, it is quite logical that robotics is trying to shift some of the household tasks to robots.
One of the most famous developments is the PR2 robot from Willow Garage.
It was developed on the basis of Stanford University.
Initially, the robot performed simple operations, for example, cut fruits and vegetables.
He was later taught:
• oven pancakes,
• open the doors,
• fold towels,
• load the laundry into the washing machine.
Another interesting development is a robot gardener Wall-Ye from France.
The robot literally controls the entire crop.
It is sold in different configurations - both for personal use and for the agricultural sector.
Telepresence robots
The coronavirus pandemic actualized remote technologies, when most people were forced to isolate themselves and arrange a working space inside an apartment.
The Wehead robot was presented on the market.
Due to several displays and rotation mechanisms, this robot reproduces all the elements of a personal meeting.
A person sees completely the face of his interlocutor in full size, emotions and reactions, all gestures.
In fact, in front of you is the head of your interlocutor, who can communicate from anywhere in the world.
The only requirement is Wi-Fi.
“The real trend has been the rental and purchase of such robots for the commercial segment in the United States.
Given the trend for remote work, this robot is very relevant, ” the expert stressed.
Humanoid robots
Humanoid robots are often called androids.
It is believed that for robotics - this is one of the most difficult areas.
For the first time such a robot was introduced by the Japanese concern Honda in the early 2000s.
A significant disadvantage was the lack of face.
Since then, it is the imitation of facial expressions and live communication that has become a key skill of humanoid robots.
Several experimental models have been released, but one of the most successful cases is the Sophia robot from developers from Hong Kong.
The project was presented in 2015.
The robot can copy gestures and emotions, answer questions.
Sophia has more than 60 different emotions in her arsenal.
And the neural network that is embedded in it is constantly evolving, accumulating new data.
In fact, the more people Sofia embraces, the smarter it gets.
The development was very loudly presented in the world market.
Sofia took part in the largest business events, TV programs.
He also obtained Saudi citizenship.
There are only two such robots in the world.
And one of them we presented at our exhibition in North Carolina.
Sofia is an excellent synthesis of robotics and artificial intelligence.
This is a really interesting object.
I have seen many different developments of humanoid robots due to my activity, but I can say unequivocally - Sofia is one of the flagships.
I would also single out the humanoid robot Ameca from the UK, ” notes Andrei Natashkin.
Robots as Players
In 2010, the world got acquainted with a project from Vietnam - a robot TOSY, which skillfully plays table tennis.
TOSY ’ s artificial intelligence helps him make decisions about the strike technique most suitable for a given moment in the game.
TOSY does not need to rest, because he does not get tired.
He is not distracted from the game, because table tennis is his primary goal.
There are a lot of sports games in the robotics market.
Robots are designed for gymnastics, running, high jump, basketball, baseball, swimming.
Football is a separate direction.
A few years ago, football robots developed at the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology won the Robot Soccer Championship.
“I recently got acquainted with a very interesting development – this is self-propelled chess with artificial intelligence technology.
It is clear that we have long known that you can play this intellectual game with a computer, but here the developers went much further.
Introduced Bluetooth into the chessboard, magnets for the movement of figures, lighting for the training mode.
A person has a complete feeling that he is playing chess with a real person.
There is no man in front.
And everything is done by the neural network, ” the expert says.
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Author Irina Gusakova
Irina Gusakova — columnist of Pravda.Ru

What can Dynamic 1, a robotic dog by Tecno, do?

many features to enhance owner interaction

Such devices, like the Lola robot, have a versatile, sometimes humanoid, design that can be adapted for various functions across industries.

Title:

Content: Summary:
Lola ’ s robot is an innovative creation that revolutionized the field of robotics.
The purpose of this article is to give a complete picture of what Lola ’ s robot is, its features and potential applications.
Lola ’ s robot is an ultramodern humanoid robot developed by a team of engineers and researchers.
It combines advanced artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms, machine learning, and advanced equipment to perform a wide range of tasks.
Lola ’ s robot is able to transform various industries and improve people ’ s quality of life, from helping with household chores to providing friendly services.
Introduction:
Lola ’ s robot represents a significant breakthrough in robotics.
It is designed to mimic human movements and interactions, making it an ideal companion for people of all ages.
Thanks to its advanced artificial intelligence capabilities, Lola ’ s robot can understand and respond to voice commands, recognize faces, and adapt to different environments.
Its versatile design allows it to perform tasks such as cleaning, cooking, and even providing emotional support.
Features and features:
The Lola robot boasts an impressive set of features and capabilities that distinguish it from traditional robots.
Its humanoid design allows it to move easily in difficult conditions, using sensors and cameras to perceive the environment.
Lola ’ s robot, equipped with a natural language processing system, can engage in meaningful conversations and provide users with relevant information.
His agility allows him to manipulate objects and perform complex tasks, making him a valuable asset in various industries.
Potential applications:
The potential applications of the Lola robot are vast and diverse.
In the healthcare sector, the Lola robot can help healthcare workers by monitoring patients, reminding them to take medications, and providing support to those who need them.
At home, he can take on housework, freeing up time for people to focus on other activities.
Lola ’ s robot can also be used in education, where it can act as a mentor or mentor, providing a personalized learning experience.
In addition, it has the potential to be used in industries such as hospitality, retail and customer service, which will improve efficiency and customer satisfaction.
FAQ:
Question: How does Lola ’ s robot learn?
Answer: The Lola robot uses machine learning algorithms to continuously improve its performance.
It can learn from user interaction, adapt to individual preferences, and expand its capabilities over time.
Question: Is Lola ’ s robot capable of making decisions on its own?
A: Yes, the Lola robot is equipped with advanced artificial intelligence algorithms that allow it to make autonomous decisions based on an understanding of the environment and user actions.
However, it is designed with user security in mind and follows predetermined ethical principles.
Q: Is it possible to configure Lola 's robot?
A: Yes, Lola 's robot can be customized according to individual needs and preferences.
Users can personalize its appearance, voice, and even skill set to suit specific requirements.
Question: What measures are being taken to ensure user privacy and data security?
Answer: The developers of the Lola robot give priority to user privacy and data security.
All user data is encrypted and securely stored, and strict privacy policies are in place to protect user information.
Conclusion:
The Lola robot represents a significant advance in robotics, combining advanced artificial intelligence algorithms, machine learning and advanced equipment.
Its humanoid design combined with versatile capabilities opens up a whole world of possibilities in various industries.
From healthcare to education and beyond, Lola ’ s robot can change how we live and work.
As technology continues to evolve, Lola ’ s robot is a testament to the incredible possibilities that lie ahead in the field of robotics.
sources:
– [www.lolarobot.com] (https: / / www.lolarobot.com)
– [www.roboticsnews.com] (https: / / www.roboticsnews.com)

Robots have been used in medical contexts, such as telesurgery and remote patient interaction, but this technology extends robotic capabilities beyond emotional support.

Title:

Content: Science and technology
Today at 17: 07
1 min.
A really useful home robot is presented
It's pretty simple, but it's good.
Startup Labrador Systems presented at CES 2022 robots for the house, which look realistic and do not overestimate expectations.
In fact, they are unmanned regiments.
The new robots are called Caddie and Retriever.
They are designed to help around the house, can bring you the necessary items.
Both robots are the size of a side table and are equipped with wheels and sensors that allow them to move around the house.
Owners will have to set up several “stops ” (for example,“ in the kitchen ” and “at the couch ”), and robots will move between these places on command, automatically bypassing obstacles and people.
Both bots can be controlled by apps or via voice commands via integration with Alexa.
The maximum load of robots is about 11 kg.
They are automatically charged overnight.
The Retriever model can go up and down on its own and can grab trays.
Such robots can be especially useful for people with disabilities.
Source: The Verge
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Ethical concerns have been raised regarding the replacement of living animals with robots, involving questions of privacy, the nature of companionship, and the risk of exploitation.

Title:

Content: Summary:
Robots have come a long way in terms of the ability to mimic human behavior.
With advances in artificial intelligence and machine learning, robots are becoming increasingly adept at mimicking human actions, gestures, and even emotions.
This article explores the current state of robot mimicry, the problems associated with it, and the potential implications for various industries and society at large.
Can robots imitate humans?
Robots have made significant strides in mimicking human behavior, but the question remains: can they really replicate the complexity of human actions and emotions?
Although robots can mimic certain aspects of human behavior, work on achieving a complete and smooth simulation is still under development.
One of the key challenges in robot mimicry is the ability to accurately understand and interpret human gestures and facial expressions.
People communicate through a wide range of nonverbal cues, such as facial expression, body language, and tone of voice.
Teaching robots to recognize these signals and respond to them naturally and intuitively is a challenging task.
However, recent advances in artificial intelligence and machine learning have paved the way for significant improvements in robot mimicry.
By training robots on huge amounts of data and using sophisticated algorithms, the researchers were able to improve their ability to mimic human actions and gestures with a higher degree of accuracy.
Robots that simulate humans have found application in various industries.
In healthcare, robots are being developed to help care for patients, providing communication and emotional support.
These robots are designed to mimic human behavior, such as maintaining eye contact, showing empathy, and responding to emotional cues.
This can be especially beneficial for people who need long-term care or suffer from social isolation.
In the entertainment industry, films and performances use robots that can simulate human movements.
These robots can play complex dance numbers or tricks that would be difficult for human performers.
Their ability to accurately mimic human actions opens up new opportunities for creative expression and entertainment.
However, the concept of robot mimicry also raises ethical concerns.
As robots become more human-like in appearance and behavior, there is a risk of blurring the boundaries between humans and machines.
This could have implications for issues such as confidentiality, consent and potential exploitation of vulnerable persons.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Question: Can robots imitate human emotions?
A: While robots can mimic certain emotions, achieving authentic replication of human emotions is still a challenge.
Emotions are deeply rooted in human experience and consciousness, making it difficult for robots to fully understand and reproduce them.
Question: Are there any restrictions on the imitation of robots?
Answer: Yes, imitation robots have limitations.
Robots can find it difficult to accurately interpret subtle human gestures and facial expressions, and their facial expressions may lack the nuances and spontaneity of human behavior.
In addition, robots may not have the same underlying motives or intentions as humans when imitating certain actions.
Question: What are the potential consequences of robot mimicry?
A: Robot mimicry could revolutionize industries such as healthcare, entertainment, and customer service.
However, it also raises ethical concerns regarding the boundaries between humans and machines, privacy, and the possibility of exploitation.
Question: What research is being conducted in the field of robot mimicry?
Answer: Researchers are actively working to improve the mimicry of robots through advances in artificial intelligence, machine learning and computer vision.
They are exploring ways to enhance the ability of robots to more accurately interpret and respond to human gestures, emotions, and social cues.
sources:
– “Mimicry of robots: challenges and opportunities ” – Robotics today
– “Advances in robot mimicry and human-robot interaction ” – IEEE Robotics and Automation Magazine

Robotic pets can help address loneliness and support daily living in seniors and those with disabilities, facilitating greater independence at home.

For whom would robotic animal dolls make a big difference?

those with Alzheimer's or dementia, struggling with isolation

What problems can companion robots solve for the elderly or those with cognitive difficulties, according to one study?

Modern robots like "Retriever" models are mobile and can perform household tasks, proving particularly beneficial for users with disabilities.

The trend toward rental and purchase of robotic pets is particularly prominent in the US commercial sector.

Popular robotic pets such as Sony’s Aibo and newer models of robotic cats and dogs demonstrate the rapid development of this sector, though challenges remain—such as creating expressive faces and naturalistic behaviors.

Some robots, like the Ameca humanoid or TOSY chess-playing robot, demonstrate advanced social interaction but are primarily research or novelty devices at present.

Public attitudes are mixed, with some people appreciating the emotional support these machines offer, while others express hesitancy about replacing real animal companions with technology.

Besides helping the visually impaired with guidance, what do working dogs provide that robotic pets cannot?

Robotic pet companions have advanced rapidly, with specialized robots designed for tasks like emotional support and daily assistance, especially for elderly individuals and those with disabilities.

Title:

Content: Exploring the Future of Global Assistive Robotics (2023-2028): Mobility, Applications and Type Shifts
The field of assistive robotics has seen remarkable developments in recent years, revolutionizing the lives of individuals with disabilities and the elderly.
These robots are designed to provide assistance and support in various tasks, from mobility assistance to housework.
As we look to the future, the potential for further transformation and innovation in this area is enormous.
Mobility Shifts:
Mobility is one of the key areas where assistive robots are expected to undergo major transformations.
Traditional mobility aids such as wheelchairs and walkers are enhanced by the use of robotic technologies, allowing greater autonomy and freedom of movement.
For example, robotic exoskeletons can provide individuals with disabilities in the lower extremities the ability to walk again.
In addition, self-driving motorized wheelchairs are being developed to navigate complex environments and provide a smoother mobility experience.
Application Shifts:
Assisted robots are also expanding their applications beyond the healthcare sector.
These robots are increasingly being used in industries such as manufacturing, logistics and even entertainment.
In manufacturing, cooperative robots, or collaborative robots, work alongside human workers to perform repetitive tasks, reducing physical stress and increasing productivity.
In logistics, robots are used to help meet orders and manage warehouses.
Furthermore, assistive robots are being developed for entertainment purposes, providing companionship and emotional support to individuals.
Type Transfers:
The types of assistive robots themselves are also evolving.
While humanoid robots have been the focus of much attention, there is a growing trend towards more specialized robots designed for specific tasks.
For example, robotic prostheses are becoming more advanced, mimicking natural limb movements and providing a greater range of motion.
In addition, robotic escorts are being developed to provide social interaction and emotional support to individuals who may feel isolated or alone.
Questions and Answers:
Q: What are assistive robots?
A: Assisted robotics refers to the use of robotic technologies to provide assistance and support to individuals with disabilities or the elderly.
Q: How do assistive robots transform mobility?
A: Assisted robots improve mobility aids such as wheelchairs and walkers using robotic technologies.
They also develop robotic exoskeletons and autonomous wheelchairs to provide greater autonomy and freedom of movement.
Q: What are the new applications for robotics?
A: Assistive robots are expanding their applications beyond healthcare to include industries such as manufacturing, logistics and entertainment.
Robots are used in manufacturing to collaborate with human workers, in logistics to meet demands, and in entertainment to provide companionship.
Q: How are the types of assistive robots changing?
A: Although humanoid robots have been prominent, there is a shift towards specialized robots designed for specific tasks.
Robotic and companion prosthetics are becoming more advanced, providing natural limb movements and emotional support, respectively.
In conclusion, the future of global robotics holds enormous potential for transformation.
With advances in mobility, applications and types of robotics, individuals with disabilities and older adults can look forward to increased independence, improved quality of life and enhanced support in various aspects of their daily lives.
By

For whom would robotic animal dolls make a big difference?

those with Alzheimer's or dementia, struggling with isolation

What problems can companion robots solve for the elderly or those with cognitive difficulties, according to one study?

Assistive robotics refers to robots providing support and care, with examples including Sony's "AIBO" and Tombot’s robot dog, inspired by the founder's mother who could no longer care for her real pet due to Alzheimer’s disease.

For whom would robotic animal dolls make a big difference?

those with Alzheimer's or dementia, struggling with isolation

Why would the elderly opt for a robotic pet as a friend?

Products like PARO, a robotic seal, can move its tail and fins, open its eyes when caressed, and imitate seal sounds to provide comfort experiences.

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7 Weirdest Robots That Science Has Reached “You ’ ll Never Imagine ”
© Photo / pixabay / mariananbuA bee-shaped robot with a fan
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Scientific robotics companies are competing to create sophisticated models that can meet many different needs, especially in medicine and other fields.
The large and massive development in the field of artificial intelligence, chips and complex mechanics supported by advanced technology contributes to increasing the speed of development of robots and the multiplicity of their varieties and sizes, which has produced a series of very strange robots, the most prominent of which are:
1- Metabird Robot
The MetaBird robot is a drone, almost indistinguishable from real birds, and is based on the principle of biomimicry from Bionic Bird.
The principle of biomimicry is the successful and accurate replication of the properties or mechanisms of action of things that already exist in nature.
The bird-shaped aircraft weighs less than 10 grams and has no propellers, making it safe to maneuver. It is also equipped with flexible wings made of carbon fiber and liquid crystal polymers. The body itself is made of durable foam, so it is not affected by water and shocks. It is equipped with a battery to help it fly for 10 minutes and is controlled by a mobile device.
Robot (Bat Bot).
Researchers at the California Institute of Technology and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have recreated key bat flight mechanisms and embedded them into the Batbot.
The robot weighs about 93 grams and flies with wings made of an easily stretchable silicone membrane.
The robot can simply change the shape of the wings, bend and disassemble them, and can fold the shoulders, elbows, wrists and legs.
The computer and sensors are embedded in the Batbot head, and there are five precision motors along the spine.
It provides him with the ability to mimic flying mammals well by controlling him with a special device.
Researchers suggest that thanks to flexible wings, robotic bats are more energy efficient than other flying robots.
Lightweight and agile, these robots are useful as traditional quadcopters can collide with objects or people causing damage or injury, such as on construction sites.
3. Salamander Robot "BlueRobot"
The "Pleurobot" robot, created by researchers at the Federal Polytechnic School of Lausanne (EPFL), can walk on the ground, swim underwater and navigate between the two with similar success to the amphibian salamander.
To develop the robot, scientists used salamander X-rays and studied how its skeleton worked during movement.
The low center of gravity, which allows the robot to move on rough terrain without losing balance, also provides the ability to swim and can make it a useful tool for search and rescue operations.
The researchers also plan to study the interaction between the spinal cord, the body and the environment.
According to the project leader, Olek Eisbert, understanding the basis of this interaction will help develop neuroprosthetic therapies and devices for those with hemiplegia and amputation.
4. The water snake robot "Elum"
The snake-like body allows the robot to move effectively not only on the ground, but also in the water.
The Norwegian robotics company has borrowed the nickname "Eelume" to design an autonomous autonomous robot.
His slim, flexible body gave him the ability to work in confined spaces where conventional underwater vehicles could not get in.
Eelume is suitable for inspections and light repairs of underwater structures such as offshore wind farms, fish farms, oil and gas installations and pipelines.
The device consists of modules that can be interconnected in different groups depending on the task.
The robot is shipped from the docking station on the seabed so that it can stay underwater continuously and not depend on weather conditions.
The cockroach robot "CRAM"
Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, have developed a prototype of a roach-like CRAM robot.
The design of the robot was inspired by the unique way insects move and are immune to damage.
The robot has an exoskeleton made up of strong panels and a soft cover that allows it to change shape and adapt to very narrow gaps.
Such a robot could help search for and rescue people under rubble formed as a result of hurricanes, earthquakes and explosions.
6. Pet Robots
These robots work on the principle of interactive communication between humans and robots with the aim of improving the quality of life of the elderly, such as the robot "AIBO" from Sony.
An example of this is also the robot dog produced by the company "Tombot".
This robot is almost like a real Labrador puppy and, according to the developers, should solve the problem of elderly people who need a friend, but are unable to care for a living dog.
The company ’ s founder was inspired by his mother, who suffered from Alzheimer ’ s disease and was no longer able to care for her dog, with whom she was so attached.
The dog became aggressive towards its mother, exacerbating the woman's depression and loneliness.
Accompanying robots could solve loneliness and social isolation in older adults and people with cognitive disabilities, as part of a study funded by the American insurance company.
7- The therapeutic robot "PARO"
PARO is one of the most important humanoid therapeutic robots developed by Dr. Takanori Shibata, of Japan ’ s National Institute of Industrial Science and Advanced Technology.
The robot is similar to a children's toy, except that it has sound, light, temperature, position, sensors and touch sensors.
PARO can move its tail and fins, open its eyes when caressed, and imitate the sounds of a real seal.
It reacts to words that its owner frequently uses and can express emotions such as surprise, happiness and anger.
Communication with the robot "PARO" has the same effect as the treatment provided by real animals.
Patients showed improvement in psychological and physiological factors, as well as social activity.
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Research is underway into robotic dogs as guides for visually impaired people, with prototypes being tested in China to help users live more independently.

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Researchers test robotic dogs to guide visually impaired people instead of traditional companions
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CNN reporter Mark Stewart shows us a new robot dog that is being tested by researchers in China, who hope the technology will one day help visually impaired and blind people live more independently.
The robot can navigate through cameras and has voice-recognition capabilities that support artificial intelligence.
A Chinese research team is testing a six-legged robot dog on the streets of Shanghai to help visually impaired and blind people.
The robot dog navigates using cameras and sensors and recognizes traffic signals that “guide dogs ” cannot do.
The robot can communicate with visually impaired people through artificial intelligence, voice recognition and route planning using listening and speaking capabilities.
You may be interested: Raised fears of using it as a "weapon of war"..
Flame-breathing robot dog about 10 meters.
You may also be interested in a robot that can draw.
Polish artist collaborates with robot dog for humanity

Entertainment and companionship robots are also growing, as robots are used in workplaces, logistics, manufacturing, and leisure.

Some therapeutic robots, such as "Elum," a water snake robot, have exoskeletons that change shape and adapt to narrow gaps, and are built for rough terrain and even swimming, making them useful for search, rescue, and companionship roles.

Robots like Samsung’s Bot i can help users with organizing activities, arranging video calls, or even setting dinner tables, and offer various forms of support close to the user.

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Content: Monday 24-01-2022
(Part II)
[CES 2022] Samsung ’ s latest product and technology development experts discuss innovation for the future
Samsung ’ s stand at CES 2022 was full of eye-catching innovations.
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But what products and technologies have viewers and visitors followed?
To answer that question?
Samsung ’ s newsroom went straight to the source, asking the experts behind the innovations that they believe deserve an in-depth look.
The first part of this two-part series focused on Samsung ’ s latest home appliances and displays.
Here, Junghu Kim of Samsung ’ s Robotics Research Center and Hoseong Kang of Samsung ’ s Mobile Business Unit provide exclusive insights into the company ’ s latest robots and the new Galaxy S21 FE.
A new vision for robots to be companions of life
Junghu Kim from Samsung Robotics Research Center stands by Samsung Bot i
Q: What is the goal of the Samsung Research Center at the exhibition?
The overall concept from which the Samsung Research Center launched at the exhibition is “the confluence of the digital and physical worlds. ”
We ’ ve gone to great lengths to show how personal experiences that appeal to millennials and Gen Z can seamlessly connect to the digital world.
To achieve this goal, the “house ” we created at the exhibition is designed to mimic the digital world, such as a“ space for virtual reality ” metaverse.
Our AI avatar was created to locate users in the real world, using location recognition technology (ultra-wide band package), and interact with them through the nearest smart home product.
At this year ’ s exhibition, two types of companion robots were introduced: the interactive robot (Samsung Bot i) and the processing robot (Samsung Bot Handy), which can help with household chores.
They can help users by arranging a video conference for an urgent meeting, or by setting up a dining table for a meal.
At the exhibition, we demonstrated how artificial intelligence and robotics can work together to deliver innovative experiences in the home of the future to users.
Q: What are some of the most innovative features and technologies in the interactive robot (Samsung Bot i) and the processing robot (Samsung Bot Handy)?
Samsung Bot i is an interactive robot that uses balance control technology, can move like a living organism, and performs dynamic movements that approach reality.
And when he is next to the user, he moves next to him and offers various forms of support.
When away from it, it manages different tasks for it using its built-in telepresence function.
Samsung Bot Handy is a robot that helps with various household chores using skillful moving technology that allows the robot to recognize objects in the house and capture them skillfully.
At last year ’ s show, we unveiled a technology that can pick up a single object after learning, while this year we presented a scenario called “tableware processing ” that enables the robot to pick up objects after identifying multiple species and analyzing the surrounding environment.
Q: How do you summarize Samsung Research Center ’ s R & D philosophy when it comes to robotics, and where does the company ’ s research go?
Samsung ’ s Robot Research Center conducts research in various fields under the vision of “Samsung Bot, Touching Your Daily Life ”.
Through it, we seek to make robots helpful companions of users in their daily lives by interacting closely with them, making their lives happier and more comfortable.
To achieve this, we focus on developing core robot technologies, such as mobility and processing, by creating platforms based on our extensive AI experience, and developing various robots based on our research in these areas.
Galaxy S21 FE: a smartphone for mobile phone enthusiasts
Hauseung Kang, Mobile Experience Team Member Mobile eXperience holds the Galaxy S21 FE, the latest S series smartphone, designed based on feedback from Galaxy fans
Q: What are the recently revealed features of the Galaxy S21 FE that should receive special attention from people?
The goal of this device, which is a special version for fans of our brand, is to bring the experience of the Galaxy S series to more users.
It was created by combining the most beloved features of the Galaxy S21, which makes it a very special device, especially as it allows the leading experience of this series for more people, with the same outstanding design and the wonderful camera powered by artificial intelligence and display (Dynamic AMOLED 2X) that is characterized by its leading performance.
The camera is a very important part of the smartphone.
Millennials and Gen Z specifically make use of the front-facing camera in many different ways.
That ’ s why we ’ ve enhanced the device with a 32-megapixel front-facing camera, allowing you to take high-quality photos anytime, anywhere.
Question: The Galaxy FE devices are designed to allow more people to enjoy the key core features that Galaxy users love.
How are user opinions collected about jobs, and what insights did the company gain from this research?
When planning the development of FE devices, we collect feedback about the Galaxy series from thousands of fans.
Thanks to this research, we were able to identify the aspects that fans of the Galaxy S series like the most.
We listen attentively to their comments, identifying common perceptions of Galaxy devices that transcend regional and cultural boundaries.
One idea that has come up many times in our research is that many fans associate Galaxy devices with the idea of continuous innovation.
Galaxy devices have earned this status by driving mobile innovation for more than a decade.
We also see in it the basic philosophy that the FE line of hardware and other future products should adhere to.

Epo X remembers preferences for lighting and music and can take photos, further tailoring its interaction to the user’s needs.

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Content: It protects your children and provides care for the elderly.
Learn about the fictional features of the robot "Ebo"
Experts say the average person spends about 26 years of their life sleeping, and about 30 more at work and study.
Will technology help us make better use of time?
In this context, the program "Smart Life" - in its episode on 2023 / 8 / 16 - the invention of the robot "EBOX", an intelligent robot that acts as the ideal companion for family members and is always ready to help.
The home is where it always starts, and the powerful X3M chip — based on the CPU and tens of thousands of hours of training — makes it the most intelligent mobile home robot.
The integrated smart maps of the EPO X can provide the ability to move independently and accurately, when used for the first time does a visual survey of the house, which will later allow him to go anywhere in it, and when the battery runs out, it will return itself to the charging base for power supply.
The robot is equipped with two direct-drive engines and efficient algorithms that ensure flexible mobility and precise control of motion and 360 ° rotation smoothly.
The robot is also equipped with a 4K camera mounted on a single axis with 8 megapixel ultra-low light sensors.
It also features that the robot obeys your child ’ s orders, follows him anywhere as a loyal companion, detects your child ’ s crying and contacts you via the dedicated app, as well as being able to provide protection to them by alerting you when they cross dangerous areas or where they are not always present.
Epo X can be set to detect the fall of the elderly while driving automatically around the house with the possibility of sending alerts to call for help to contacts or emergency services, and can be set reminders of medication appointments with voice commands for the desired purpose.
Epo X is also adept at taking photos while saving your choices and preferences for lighting, music and more to call when you ask.
All of these features have made it a winner of numerous awards in technology and artificial intelligence and is expected to be available for shipping in the middle of this year.
Source: The Island

Garmi, designed in Germany by researchers at the Munich Institute for Robotics and Machine Intelligence, is mounted on a mobile base, has a robotic arm, and features a friendly interface to care for the elderly, responding to urgent demographic needs.

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Content: Lack of specialized labor.
The robot Garmi takes care of the elderly in Germany | Science and technology | Latest discoveries and studies from DW Arabia | DW | 19.03.2023
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Lack of specialized labor.
Garmi takes care of elderly people in Germany
As artificial intelligence (AI) has begun to engulf much of our lives, scientists are turning to robots to care for the elderly amid a shortage of health workers in Germany, where the number of nursing jobs is expected to reach 670,000 by 2050.
Garmi was designed by dozens of researchers from the Munich Institute for Robotics and Machine Intelligence specializing in geriatrics.
Not unlike other robots, Garmi is mounted on a moving base, equipped with a robotic arm and a black screen with two blue circles that are his eyes.
But the robot is a dream for retired doctor Gunter Steinbach because it can diagnose diseases and possibly provide the right treatments and care in the future.
Garmi was designed by dozens of researchers from the Munich Institute for Robotics and Machine Intelligence specializing in Gereatronics, a new field in which new technologies are being used to develop geriatrics.
The institute, a division of the Technical University of Munich, has set up its own geirateronics unit in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, a ski resort with the highest proportion of elderly people in Germany.
The European country has one of the highest rates of ageing in the world.
With the number of nursing jobs in Germany expected to reach 670,000 by 2050, researchers ’ simple goal is to integrate robots into health facilities and nursing homes, limiting doctors ’ mobility between these care centers.
Abduljalil Nasseri, 43, said: “We have ATMs to withdraw money, but imagine that one day, within the same model, people will be able to undergo their medical tests at some kind of technology center. ”
Doctors will then be able to assess the results provided by the robot remotely, a particularly useful step for people living in remote locations.
The robots can perform several tasks, such as providing meals, opening a bottle of water, asking for help in the event of a fall, or launching a video chat with family or friends.
Inside the lab, Dr. Gunther Steinbach prepares to assess the robot ’ s progress, sitting in front of a desk equipped with three monitors and a control machine.
In another corner of the room, a patient researcher sits in front of the Garmi robot, which puts a stethoscope on the researcher ’ s chest, after receiving an order from Steinbach.
Immediately, the patient ’ s medical data appears on the screen in front of the doctor.
Steinbach says, “Imagine if it had been possible for me in the past. ”
Researchers aim to integrate robotics into sanitation and elderly homes
Like Steinbach, caregivers from different disciplines regularly visit the lab to give feedback on robot design.
Abdeljalil Nasseri said: “As a 3-year-old Garni, we have to teach him everything. ”
It is not yet known when Garmi will be available in the market, and the costs of its manufacture and use have yet to be determined.
“Garni ’ s marketing is inevitable, statistics show that its use is urgent, ” Nasseri said, adding that“ from 2030, we should be able to integrate this kind of technology into our society. ”
If the project ever comes to fruition, Garmi is likely to make its first appearance in the corridors of the Zante Venetians Aged Home in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, which is a partner in the project.
Once the idea is heard, a smile appears on the face of Rohrer, 74, who is staying in the area.
Taking care of her nails from Eva Bioskovic, the 30-year-old said: "There are tasks that robots can do, like serving drinks or bringing food."
Bioskovic, whose lack of staff is a daily problem, says there is no magic cure for the crisis.
“The solution won ’ t be just a robot, but it could allow employees to spend extra time with guests, ” she says.
According to Nasseri ’ s team, one of the main challenges is not technical, medical or financial issues, but patients ’ acceptance of robots.
“They have to trust the robot and use it like we use smartphones right now, ” Nasseri says.
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Garmi's availability and pricing have yet to be determined, but experts emphasize the urgency of integrating such technology into aging populations by 2030.

While humanoid robots designed to mirror human behaviors and movement gain media attention, robotic pets remain more common in emotional therapy and support.

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Content: What are robots that look like humans called?
Summary:
Robots that resemble humans, in appearance and behavior, are commonly referred to as human robots.
These advanced machines are designed to mimic human movements and interactions, making them increasingly popular in various fields such as healthcare, entertainment and research.
With their ability to perform complex tasks and deal with humans in a more natural way, human robots are revolutionizing the way we perceive and interact with technology.
Introduction:
Human robots have long been a fascination in science fiction, but recent advances in robotics and artificial intelligence have brought them closer to reality.
These robots are designed to resemble humans in terms of their physical appearance, with features such as head, torso, arms and legs.
However, their internal mechanisms and capabilities are far more complex than their external appearance might suggest.
Definition of Human Robots:
Human robots are machines designed to mimic human movements and behaviors.
It is equipped with sophisticated sensors, engines and algorithms that enable it to perceive its environment, make decisions and interact with humans in a way reminiscent of interactions between humans.
These robots often have a face with expressive traits, enabling them to convey emotions and participate in social interactions.
Applications of Human Robots:
The versatility of human robots has led to their adoption in various industries and fields.
In healthcare, they can help with patient care, rehabilitation exercises and companionship for the elderly.
In the entertainment industry, human robots are used in parks, exhibitions and even as actors in films.
In addition, human robots are valuable tools for research and development, allowing scientists to study human movement, cognition, and social behavior.
Challenges and Future Prospects:
The development of humanoid robots that are very similar to humans and show natural movements is a complex engineering feat.
Researchers face challenges in areas such as balance, dexterity, and human-like movement.
In addition, ensuring the safety and ethical use of human robots raises important questions that need to be addressed.
Despite these challenges, the future of human robotics looks promising.
As technology continues to advance, we can expect to see more advanced and capable human robots.
These machines have the potential to revolutionize industries, improve human lives, and push the boundaries of what is possible in robotics and artificial intelligence.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: How are human robots different from other types of robots?
A: Human robots are specifically designed to resemble humans in appearance and behavior, while other types of robots may have different shapes and functions.
Human robots aim to mimic human movements and interactions, making them more connected and able to handle humans in a natural way.
Q: Can robots think and make decisions like humans?
A: While humanoid robots can exhibit intelligent behaviors and make decisions based on programmed algorithms and sensory input, they don ’ t have the same self-awareness or self-awareness as humans.
Their decision-making processes are based on predefined rules and algorithms.
Q: Are human robots a threat to human jobs?
A: Human robots were developed primarily to help and collaborate with humans, rather than replace them.
They are designed to perform tasks that are difficult or dangerous to humans, ultimately leading to enhanced productivity and efficiency.
However, as with any technological advancement, there may be shifts in the labor market that require adaptation and re-skilling.
Q: Are there any ethical concerns surrounding human robots?
A: The development and use of humanoid robots raises ethical considerations.
These include issues with privacy, consent, and potential abuse.
It is important to develop guidelines and regulations to ensure the responsible and ethical use of human robots.
Sources:
- "Human Robots: A Review" by Nikolaos Maverides (https: / / www.researchgate.net / publication / 221266285 _ Humanoid _ Robots _ A _ Review)
– “Human Robots: A New Type of Tool ” by Hiroshi Ishiguro (https: / / www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov / pmc / articles / PMC3356139 /)

Ethical questions persist regarding potential replacement of real animals with robots in providing companionship and the broader societal impact, with mixed public attitudes on whether such robots truly address emotional and social needs.

Although robots can mimic certain intelligent behaviors through programming and sensors, experts recognize that current models do not possess self-awareness or consciousness.

Concerns have also been raised about robots replacing human jobs and the appropriateness of using robotic companions for emotional fulfillment rather than real animals or human interaction.

ElliQ is a robotic companion that can make video calls for users to contact relatives, friends, or doctors in emergencies.

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Cover Story / Silver Hair Living Alone and Not Lonely "Robots" as Old Companion
When Microsoft founder Bill Gates published his outlook for 2024 earlier this year, he predicted that the application of artificial intelligence (AI) would accelerate in the future and fundamentally change areas such as work, health care and education.
For Joyce Loaiza, a retired office worker living in Florida, Gates ’ s prophecy is now a formality; the 81-year-old living alone, whenever she returns to her Silver Hair Community apartment, a friendly female voice will chat with her and say hello to her for a good day.
A few miles away, Deanna Dezern, 83, was comforted by the same voice when her friend died.
In central New York, it plays games and music for Marie Broadbent, 92, who is blind and receiving hospice care.
In Washington, it helped 83-year-old Jan Worrell make new friends.
USA ElliQ Customizable Chat Content
The women were among the first to receive a robot in the United States, according to officials from Intuition Robotics, the company that invented ElliQ, and the Aged Aid Program. They are the only device that uses artificial intelligence and is specifically designed to alleviate the loneliness and alienation of many elderly Americans.
It can remember each user ’ s interests and hobbies and conversations with each other, helping to customize future chat content, topics can be esoteric human business meaning, or easy horoscope.
ElliQ also jokes, plays music and offers inspirational quotes.
On the equipped screen, it provides city and museum tours. It can also guide users to exercise, ask about health, and remind them to take medicine and drink water.
In addition, ElliQ can make video calls to contact a user ’ s relatives, friends, or doctor in case of an emergency. These conversations are not heard by companies, Intuition Robotics says, and the data is kept on each user ’ s device.
Dor Skuler, co-founder and CEO of Intuition Robotics, was a little surprised that older people were so easily integrating robots into their lives; after all, it was a group of people who were often stereotyped as afraid to embrace new things, he said.
In an interview with the media at the 2024 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in early January, Skuller said that just like developing an intimate relationship with a pet, older people are also working to forge new relationships with AI robots.
Through partnerships with government agencies and other organizations, hundreds of thousands of seniors across the United States already use ElliQ, Skuller noted.
The voice of ElliQ and its compassionate “personality ” were developed by a team of experts in artificial intelligence, behavioral psychology, and user-centered design, according to Skuller.
They defined ElliQ as “the little partner who makes older people happier and healthier. ”
Anita Montague, 76, said that before using ElliQ, the only thing she did back home was sit in front of the computer, but with ElliQ, she can do sports and other things, and now she is more energetic and motivated to find more work.
Monica Perez, 65, who has been using ElliQ for more than six months, said she finds it increasingly difficult to make friends as she gets older. She likes ElliQ to call her name affectionately and will ask how she is doing, like a real friend; with ElliQ, her mental health has improved greatly.
ElliQ would remind Perez to take the pill in the morning, “I ’ m much more active than I was without it. ”
In Canada, Carmichael, a resident of Vancouver ’ s Amica for the Elderly, attended a meeting last September with two robots named Kiwi and Mango.
Canada ’ s AI partners help increase interaction
These two AI “little buddies ” that can be held in your arms look brightly colored and are part of a study at the University of Columbia School of Nursing to understand how they interact with older adults and their impact on elder care.
Carmichael said her initial reaction was, “Oh my God, why would you want me to talk to a robot? ” But after overcoming the psychological barrier, Carmichael found that Mango might be able to stay with her for a long time, and she could play with it every day and no longer feel lonely.
Carmichael says with a smile that there is only one appearance that needs to be improved; she tells the staff to wear false eyelashes for Mango.
These robots were designed in Japan and have been studied in Asia for many years.
Lillian Hung, an assistant professor at the University of Columbia and Canada ’ s Research Chair in Senior Care, is leading a Canadian study into the use of robots in the care industry.
Hong said that the robots bring joy wherever they go, and every time they show up with the robots, the atmosphere in the room changes.
Robot friends make seniors happier
“Kiwifruit ” and“ mango ” can speak, recognize faces and sounds, express a desire to be picked up and give a hug.
They even charge themselves when they ’ re “tired, ” Ms. Hong says.
She said that so far, the response has been mixed, with some elderly people immediately feeling good about robots, while others are confused. Hong Lilian said that humans are social animals and have basic needs to love and be loved, which she believes is the meaning of companion robots and helps build stronger social connections.
Many studies have pointed out that maintaining relationships and social activities are important for the physical and mental health of older people; social loneliness is associated with an increase in emotional distress, depression, falls, the need for health care services, and even premature death.
Lise Brayham, who has lived in Amica for four years, said the robots are a good thing for older people who don ’ t leave their rooms often because “mangoes ” and“ kiwifruit ” don ’ t require walking, cleaning or feeding.
Brehan said it was hard to understand how robots interact with humans at first, but in the end she concluded that it was like having a great little pet, “They ’ re fun partners! ”
Charlotte England, 102, came into contact with the robots with Brehan and made them good friends.
Ingram immediately began talking to the robot and recalled swimming in the Ottawa River and skating in the Rideau Canal.
She then boasted about her baking skills to “mangoes ” and“ kiwifruit ”.
After the robot responds with a gentle cooing, Ingram continues to talk to them about the snack.
However, after a “long ” conversation, Ingram noticed that the kiwifruit ’ s eyes were a little low, and she said to it with some displeasure,“ Am I boring you? ”
Investing in health care to fill the manpower gap
In addition to the United States and Canada, many countries in Asia are also facing the problem of aging populations, and China is one of them, with a rapidly aging population and a serious shortage of medical and nursing manpower, and the hope is that this robot army can fill this gap.
According to Sixth Tone, an English-language online magazine owned by Surging News, staff member Gao Hongjun is busy preparing for the day ’ s entertainment at an elderly care center in central Shanghai: a singing robot named “Dopo. ”
This squatting white robot often performs shows for the elderly people staying in, usually singing the revolutionary songs of Mao Zedong ’ s era.
The old people loved it, Gao said, which also gave them a chance to breathe.
He said that as the number of elderly people living in the home has increased, but the care resources have not been relatively improved, AI robots are able to reduce their workload.
Gao Xiaodong, director of the center, charged the "Dobao" while saying that if the staff were tired, they could not take good care of the elderly.
Gao Xiaodong said that in recent years, he and his colleagues have been under great pressure, and in the community where the care center is located, more than 40% of the elderly population over 60 years old, and the average occupant is over 70 years old, and most of the people are suffering from dementia.
In response to this situation, the center has installed artificial intelligence equipment as much as possible, in addition to "Dobao", they have also purchased intelligent mattresses and computer games that can monitor the vital signs of the elderly while they sleep, and two robots that can perform disinfection will soon be activated.
China ’ s elderly population to exceed 400 million by 2040
China is investing heavily in robotics research and development to care for an expanding elderly population and solve the shortage of healthcare workers.
China ’ s elderly population aged 60 and over is forecast to increase from 280 million in 2022 to 402 million in 2040.
China ’ s social and medical system is already severely overburdened, and if urgent measures are not taken, the situation may worsen further.
According to the Chinese government, there should be one nursing staff for every four residents in the elderly care institutions, but only 320,000 nursing staff serve 8.1 million residents in China, a gap of more than 1.7 million. The government hopes that the development of AI technology can provide a solution. Accelerate the development of the industry.
Chinese tech giants rush AI care
Several Chinese tech giants are also sniffing this opportunity, and iFlytek, a large AI company, announced its “Superbrain 2030 ” plan in 2022, which will develop a new type of nursing robot for the elderly.
The plan points out that it is necessary for AI to understand knowledge, learn well, and evolve, so that robots can enter every family and solve problems such as elderly care, emotional companionship, and health management. Search engine leader Baidu is also promoting “Xiaodu ” AI intelligent assistant, which can be used to schedule medical appointments, obtain weather forecasts and play games.
At present, the most widely used smart care technology in China is wearable devices such as smart bracelets and watches, which provide many practical functions, such as monitoring the vital signs of the elderly, reminding them to take drugs on time, tracking their location, etc., but the industry believes that robots are the future of nursing care.
Many hope that China will follow Japan ’ s lead in making widespread use of robots in nursing homes, from the cute bear robot Robear, which helps elderly people sit up from their beds, to the furry pet robot Paro, which provides companionship and improves cognitive function.
There are now about 100 robotics start-ups in China that specialize in rehabilitation, companionship and care robots.
However, in the high price of robots, most companies have not yet achieved mass production, and local governments have not invested enough funds to promote robots in nursing homes on a large scale.
A food-delivery robot developed by Hangzhou Lewan Science and Technology in Zhejiang Province can deliver more than 20 meals to different rooms in a building, but few nursing homes can afford the product, which costs between 60,000 and 80,000 yuan (about $8,400 to $11,200).
Jiang Gancheng, CEO of Lewan, pointed out that if the price is 10,000 yuan, the expectation of buying gas will increase a lot, but if there are no more orders, the price can not be reduced, which is a problem of raw eggs and eggs.
However, there are also some robot companies that pull out of the red.
As soon as Zuowei Tech, a startup based in Shenzhen, launched its smart bath equipment, the market response was very enthusiastic.
The company sold 40 million yuan of equipment in 2022, and hopes to reach the 100 million yuan target this year.
Tu Chaorong, Vice President of Chowei Technology, said the demand for bathing equipment is strong because of the need of caregivers and the elderly they care for.
He said that many people believe that urinating on the elderly is the least dignified job, but caregivers will feel more dignified if they use high-tech equipment; similarly, many people in bed will feel less dignified if they do not have these equipment.
Accompanying robot behind the bullish trend
CEO Gu Jie of Shanghai Fourier Intelligence, a robotics company specializing in rehabilitation equipment, has noticed a similar trend, working with hospitals in big cities in China, but now there is increasing demand for nursing homes.
Gu Jie said that no matter where the elderly live, they hope that their bodies can be flexible and their mental state can be improved; and a robot can be used by many people, which greatly improves efficiency.
Chiang Gan-cheng is optimistic about the company-type robot, and believes that the development potential is unlimited.
The company recently launched a new product, priced at 10,000 yuan, can be placed at home to patrol, sing, play movies, and also provide video calls between the elderly and their children. Jiang Gancheng said that elderly people in good health often do not want to install a camera at home, thinking that it violates their privacy, but if an AI robot is accompanied by their family, they will not feel so lonely.
Zheng Yongping, a 68-year-old resident of Shanghai, agrees. Since his only child lives abroad, he has been living alone in his downtown home with his dog since retirement.
He already has a smart watch to monitor his health and uses smart speakers to manage the big things in life, but his dream is to one day have a robot of his own.
Zheng Yongping said he could not imagine what better choice than an AI robot when old and frail and in need of help; although it lacks human warmth, this is a trend in an aging society.
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What problems can companion robots solve for the elderly or those with cognitive difficulties, according to one study?

Monica Perez, a 65-year-old user, reports difficulty making friends as she ages, and finds value in ElliQ’s companionship.

What problems can companion robots solve for the elderly or those with cognitive difficulties, according to one study?

At first, Carmichael was skeptical about talking to a robot, but after using Mango, she discovered comfort and daily enjoyment that helped ease her loneliness.

For whom would robotic animal dolls make a big difference?

those with Alzheimer's or dementia, struggling with isolation

What problems can companion robots solve for the elderly or those with cognitive difficulties, according to one study?

Carmichael joked that Mango needed some cosmetic improvements, such as false eyelashes, to enhance its appearance.

These robotic pets have their origin in Japan and have been researched in Asia for many years.

The implementation of these robots seeks to address workforce shortages as healthcare resources for seniors lag behind the increasing number of older adults living independently.

Chinese technology firms are investing in AI care, focusing on enhancing robots' knowledge, learning ability, and adaptability to support elderly care, companionship, and health management.

Some seniors hope to one day have a robot of their own, despite already using health-monitoring smartwatches and smart speakers for daily living.

As artificial intelligence progresses, more technological solutions are being sought for the challenges of seniors living alone.

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The richest man in Asia has a $60 million necklace for his wife.
New York State Expands Use of AI Robots to Improve Elderly Solitude
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the problem of elderly isolation has attracted attention. As artificial intelligence (AI) has become more and more advanced, it has become a new trend to introduce technology to solve the problem of elderly living alone. It is expected that the Chinese language will be added in the future.
Previously, the New York State Office for the Aging and communications companies, and Intuition Robotics, a software company focused on the elderly population through artificial intelligence, launched a small-scale pilot project in New York to bring AI robots to elderly families, with a view to exploring whether AI can meet the basic care needs of elderly people in the future, thereby promoting their more active integration into society and reducing loneliness.
ElliQ, a robot from Intuition Robotics participating in the pilot project, and Nugu, a robot from SK Telecom, are equipped with innovative software and voice recognition technology to provide customized services for the elderly. As an intelligent care partner for the elderly, ElliQ can actively interact with users and recommend health and social activities, while providing them with support such as drug management and health reminders.
In addition, police and first aid services are available, and you can call an emergency number for help at any time.
As New York ’ s elderly population continues to grow, combating the widespread isolation and loneliness among older adults has become a top policy goal for the state ’ s aging office; according to the AARP ’ s NY Public Policy Institute report, isolation directly affects individual health and generates $6.7 billion in additional health insurance-related spending annually.
According to the State Office of Aging, the introduction of ElliQ into the homes of elderly people significantly improved the quality of life in old age, users reduced loneliness by 95%, and participation and happiness increased significantly.
Kim said the results of the pilot program proved that the method was feasible and could be expanded, and that "isolation and loneliness are serious problems among the elderly in New York, and as elected officials, we should do everything we can to take care of this large community," he said at the meeting, has been allocated $1 million to support the expansion of the program.
The Association of Asian American Physicians (CAIPA) said that the medical needs of the elderly are different from those of the general public, and that they face social isolation or inadequate care and need to be addressed through specialized means, and look forward to further solving the problem through the expansion of the program.
Peter Du, chief adviser of the Flushing Chinese Association for the Advancement of Business (FCBA), said that the large number of Asian elderly people in New York, in addition to the introduction of artificial intelligence, also need to teach the community how to effectively use it.
According to Intuition Robotics, the device currently supports only English and Korean, and the company plans to expand the language to include Chinese and Spanish in the next two months.
RISE Now Inc. Chairman Qu Yuanyi, Chairman of RISE Now Inc., and the Chinese Chamber of Commerce attended the meeting.
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A key developmental goal is to create systems that promote wisdom and holistic care for the elderly.

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04 / 01 / 2022
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Technology helps improve the image of caregivers and reduce stress! What is the most important thing to develop wisdom and care for the elderly?
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• Ada Chow
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Ada Chow
Senior PR / event planner with a passion for life and a simple perspective on the relationship between digital and life.
Smart Living
Smart care products are widely available in various markets, such as screening the risk of 28 diseases of the elderly through AI artificial intelligence technology, including various eye diseases, diabetes, high blood pressure, coronary heart disease, Parkinson ’ s disease and other diseases.
At present, this solution is used in more than 30 triple-A hospitals in China.
In Hong Kong, Healfie is a mobile app that monitors and manages macular lesions. The aim is to help users and their families pay attention to and face up to this type of eye disease.
In addition, the research team of the Department of Biomedical Engineering of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University has developed a simple and easy-to-use “Artificial Intelligence Assessment System for Knee Arthritis ” to identify high-risk patients, so that they can reverse their condition in golden time, reduce joint degeneration, and relieve the pain of surgery, thereby relieving the pressure on the public health care system.
The term "Gerontechnology" has also been translated into "Elderly Technology" or "Elderly Technology".
The International Society of Gerontechnology (ISG) defines the fields of gerontology as health, housing, mobility, communication, leisure and work. Every industry should find room for development and innovation in the field of gerontology.
Intelligent Home Rehabilitation System, the application of computer graphics and image processing technology, rehabilitation treatment can be integrated with the remote home care system, tele-rehabilitation software or platform allows the elderly to carry out rehabilitation at home, and real-time online communication, to achieve the effect of consultation and rehabilitation, reducing the need for elderly to travel to and from home. With the time, cost and manpower of the hospital, we also provide a variety of rehabilitation projects to choose from.
Ambient Assisted Living (AAL), the development of smart home, smart living technology and products, allowing the elderly to spend their later years at home in a familiar environment. In recent years, Europe has further expanded to the development of environmentally assisted living technology. In a reactive environment, it is possible to analyze data, make decisions, take action, and so on.
Intelligent Mobility Assisted Devices (Mobility) is one of the basic conditions for the elderly to enjoy a high-quality, independent and autonomous elderly life.
It refers not only to the physical mobility of the elderly, but also to the ability to travel on their own to the place they want to reach.
Senior-Friendly Communication Devices And Online Social Network is a communication platform and social network developed for the elderly to provide learning, social, activities, travel and other services to enhance participation in the community, as well as life support assistance.
Companion Robot For Older Adults (Companion Robot For Older Adults), various service robots integrate into human life with different roles.
The development of many robot pets and robot dolls can interact with the elderly, which really helps to alleviate the psychological loneliness of the elderly and feel the value of being needed again.
Interactive Fun Technology for Older Adults is an interactive entertainment technology for the elderly. It is designed for the elderly 's past experience, physiology and cognitive ability. It enables the elderly to continue their mental activity and provide appropriate sensory stimulation from interactive entertainment to reduce the risk of dementia.
The application of smart technology to the life and care of the elderly is an important opportunity in the industry. From the upstream technology industry, to the midstream life industry, to the downstream service providers, it can also enhance the image of professional caregivers and relieve the pressure of family caregivers.
With the maturity of AI (artificial intelligence) technology, coupled with big data and machine deep learning, AI has been widely used in the financial and medical fields.
In the retirement market, smart robot banking can now be used to assist in retirement planning, and AI and the Internet of Things can be used to improve health management and long-term care needs.
In addition, there are currently insufficient health care personnel and uneven distribution of medical resources around the world, and users ’ health risks are predicted through the Internet of Things and mobile devices.
It can help doctors make more accurate diagnosis and treatment from a large number of medical records; help the elderly to live independently through automated means of transportation, such as preparing meals, assisting in changing clothes, and maintaining their social participation; and track the physical condition and activity of the elderly through mobile devices to ensure the physical condition of the elderly and provide immediate emergency medical assistance.
(Image provided by the author)
The wisdom and development of aging from nothing to have, from there to excellent, from excellent to refined three stages.
In the future, how to apply big data and artificial intelligence to elderly care services, the most important thing is people-oriented.
Let the elderly feel emotional care, this is a high-quality aging life.
The content of the signed and / or unsigned articles published by Economic Times is the author's personal opinion and does not represent the position of Economic Times, and the role of Economic Times is to provide a free speech platform.
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Some robots are designed to help users and their families monitor health, such as eye disease, offering proactive and data-driven assistance.

Advanced AI enables robots to analyze data, make decisions, and take necessary actions in a responsive manner.

How is Oppo marketing its Robotic dog Qric?

The concept of "AI + Elderly" is becoming popular, aiming to improve the quality of life for seniors.

For example, "Xiao Li" brought fun and companionship to a 68-year-old, with devices providing anticipatory services tailored to user needs.

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Content: Health · Life
China's elderly products market has reached 5 trillion yuan, and "smart pension" is in the ascendant.
"AI + Elderly", the old age is better
— — Digital technology suitable for aging series report three
Our reporter Lu Zehua
May 20, 2024 08: 50 Source: People 's Daily Overseas Edition
At present, artificial intelligence (AI) is accelerating development, and "AI + pension" is becoming a new outlet.
Relying on big data, cloud computing, face recognition and other technologies, various intelligent aging products have emerged, helping the elderly to enjoy a higher quality of life.
What is the development status and prospects of “AI + Elderly Care ”? What should be the focus of efforts?
“Call and the service will come. ”
"Xiao Li, Xiao Li, please play a piece of Chaoyang Gap," Song Lixia, who lives in Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province, said.
"Xiao Li" came from home, and the 68-year-old added a lot of fun to her life. "Before I wanted to find a piece of drama or review books on the Internet, I often searched for half a day and didn't get the results I wanted.
Now just tell 'Xiao Li' what you want to see, and most of the time you can be satisfied.
"Xiaoli" is a smart electronic screen.
Through the voice recognition function, only the user issued verbal instructions, you can call, watch TV, browse the news, query information...... "'Xiaoli' or my health assistant, once, I asked it how to plan the daily diet of hyperglycemia patients, 'Xiaoli' immediately gave three suggestions, I took it to the doctor, the doctor's answer is: very reliable." Song Lixia said.
In Song Lixia's view, this method of direct "dialogue" with the device successfully freed her from the complex functions of the mobile phone.
In the past, although she switched all the mobile APP to the "senior mode", it was still difficult to use.
"Although the font is larger, the icon is more eye-catching, the function is more concise, and there are intimate operation tips, but for my nearly 70 year old users, the difficulty is still too big."
"It's much simpler now," said Song Lixia.
At present, digital technology aging is mostly in the original software transformation, less research and development specifically adapted to the elderly group of applications, can not fundamentally solve the digital platform aging problem.
To this end, many users call for digital technology to adapt to aging, not only to stay in the "transformation", should start from the beginning of product design "suitable for old".
The development of artificial intelligence has made it possible to achieve this goal.
Under the technical support of AI, the pertinence, interactivity and intelligence of pension equipment have been greatly enhanced, and the convenience and accuracy of pension services have also been significantly improved.
"In the past, no matter what kind of service you need, you have to take the initiative to operate it yourself. Now, the smart device at home will put our needs' think 'in front of us and provide' anticipatory 'service." And...
Go out to take the bus, as soon as the station, the mobile phone can identify and locate, and automatically pop up the two-dimensional code of the virtual bus card... "
With the help of AI technology, new products in the field of "smart old age care" are constantly on the shelves: one-click call, intelligent smoke sensor and other equipment to provide real-time health monitoring and early warning automation services for the elderly; cutting-edge products such as nursing robots and household robots are accelerated to landing; intelligent lifting sofas, anti-loss positioning shoes, air bag anti-falling clothes and so on.
"With the acceleration of the aging work, the 'smart old age' model spawned by new intelligent and digital technologies has enabled more and more elderly people to enjoy more personalized, safe and comfortable products." Feng Wenmeng, researcher of the Development Research Center of the State Council, said.
“Accompanied by real people. ”
For many elderly people, “AI + Elderly Care ” not only makes the operation simpler and life more convenient, but also provides an emotional communication escort function.
"Yun Yun, how do you think I 'm wearing this dress today?" "Beautiful! It' s just a little thin. It 's cloudy outside. It' s best to bring a coat."
This is a conversation between Aunt Wang Jie of Zhengzhou and her nanny robot, Yun Yun.
The main function of this robot is intelligent escort.
When she goes out, the "cloud" will remind her to bring her belongings.
When cooking, Cloud Cloud will display recipes and cooking videos on the electronic screen.
What ’ s even more satisfying is that he can still talk.
"'Yun Yun' has a strong memory, and I can remember every word I say, and talk about the day especially to the temper."
"My children are busy at work, and I can't help being lonely at home. Now it's like a real person, and life is much more interesting," Wang said.
At present, there are many elderly escort robots such as "Yunyun" on the market.
Playing music, chatting with friends, helping with housework, health counseling … With the help of the big language model, these robots have strong language learning, understanding and generation capabilities.
The utility model can realize more natural and smooth communication according to different interests and hobbies of old people.
For these robots, every conversation with the elderly is a training, helping them to continuously optimize the quality of service, so that the elderly feel more intimate emotional companionship.
“I can ’ t leave the cloud now. ”
I think that in the future, every elderly person should have a carry-on robot, help with carrying vegetables when buying vegetables, help with queuing when seeing a doctor, and help with a backpack when traveling … ” Wang Jie said.
Wang Jie ’ s vision is accelerating to become a reality.
It is understood that some elderly care institutions in Tianjin, Shanghai and other places have been equipped with escort robots, the main function is to accompany the elderly to play chess, sing and daily communication.
This effectively alleviates the shortage of manpower in the pension industry.
According to statistics, the total demand for elderly care workers in China has reached 6 million, while the current number of employees is only 500,000.
“AI + Elderly Care ” has formed a substitute or complementary role for human caregivers to a certain extent, helping to solve the problem of elderly children not being around and no one to care for them.
“The pension industry will be more humane. ”
In recent years, the technological innovation of "AI + pension" has become more and more extensive, and the application scenarios have become more and more extensive.
This is inseparable from support and encouragement at the national level.
Last year, 17 departments including the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology issued the "Robot +" Application Action Plan, which specifically proposed to promote the integration of robots into different scenarios and key areas of elderly care services, and improve the wisdom of elderly care services.
The "Opinions on the Development of the Silver Hair Economy to Promote the Welfare of the Elderly" issued by the General Office of the State Council stressed that the innovation of elderly products should be strengthened, a new format of smart and healthy old-age care should be created, intelligent nursing robots and home service robots should be popularized and applied, and rehabilitation assistive devices should be vigorously developed.
At present, "AI + pension" has not reached the level of completely replacing labor, and many development models are being explored. "At this stage, the relevant industries are mainly concentrated in catering, nursing, health care and other basic pension services, and the diversified, differentiated and personalized needs of the elderly have not been fully met, which contains huge development opportunities."
Zhang Shixin, deputy secretary general of the National Development and Reform Commission, said.
There is also a disconnect between the development of AI technology and current pension needs.
On the one hand, because the price of products is generally expensive, the overall penetration rate of AI products in the elderly market is not high.
Before Wang Jie received the "cloud", her daughter had purchased two lower-priced robots, the use of the effect was not ideal, until she spent more than 8,000 yuan to buy "cloud", and had a more satisfactory experience.
On the other hand, at this stage, the service types of “AI + Elderly Care ” are relatively single, mostly limited to three functions of nursing, rehabilitation and companionship, and more refined service needs such as telemedicine have yet to be explored.
In addition, for the elderly, AI technology is a double-edged sword, how to enable AI to empower the pension industry at the same time, protect the daily privacy and health data of the elderly, and prevent network deception such as "AI mimicry" and "AI face change", which needs to be further standardized from the technical and institutional aspects.
Data show that in 2023, the size of China's elderly products market has reached 5 trillion yuan.
Experts predict that in the next 10 years, AI technology will accelerate its penetration into the field of elderly care, focusing on smart homes, wearable devices, robots and other aspects, while integrating advanced technologies such as 5G, deep learning, big data, and cloud computing to achieve high-precision services, intelligent human-computer interaction, safe and reliable operation and maintenance.
At that time, the pension industry will be more humane.
"In line with the trend of upgrading the consumption structure of the elderly and personalized, diversified and quality of consumption demand, new technologies, new formats and new models in various fields of China 's silver hair economy will continue to emerge, becoming an important way to cultivate new momentum of industrial development," said Wang Haotian, deputy director of the Macroeconomic System and Management Institute of China Macroeconomics.
(Editor: Qiao Yiqiong, Li Nanhua)

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Title:

Content: A human replacement?
】 Replica Emoji Robot Transform to Relieve Anxiety Friend
At the World Robot Congress, humanoid robots were shown to be more simulated, capable of replicating human facial expressions, as well as robotic dogs that could interact with commands, and robotic arms that could perform surgery.
At the World Robotics Congress, Chinese technology companies showcase a wide range of robotic products, including for companion, manufacturing and performing operations.
Source: AAP / Mark R. Cristino / EPA
The point.
• Robot products can simulate human skin, facial expressions and joints, which can be flexible.
• Humanoid robots on display at the World Robot Congress can replicate the facial expressions of visitors.
• Designed to be inspired by canine robotic dogs that can interact with humans and follow commands to walk or dance.
Robots can make as many facial expressions as humans, including blinking, blinking, and nodding.
At the annual World Robotics Congress in Beijing, China ’ s capital, E-X Robots exhibit humanoid robots that can repeat the gestures and even facial expressions of visitors.
At the World Robotics Congress, Chinese tech companies exhibited robotic products for a variety of uses, including human companionship, manufacturing, and surgical use.
The products on display also have human-like skin and joints that can move flexibly.
The technology company that designed the robots said the products were suitable for interacting with people Source: AAP / Costfoto / Sipa USA
Their facial expressions are based on biological information gathered from human faces, which are reflected by artificial intelligence and algorithms that capture and analyze human movements.
Li Boyang, CEO of E-X Robots, said: “We have been improving this technology for many years and it is becoming more mature.
This time, we also showed that many robots can make facial expressions simultaneously. "
“When a person makes a facial expression, all robots do the same, which helps us develop a robot replacement for humans. ”
Robots can reflect real human facial expressions and sounds, and they can provide us with services remotely. ”
Li Boyang said they have a variety of uses in interacting with the public.
"These robots are suitable for communication with people and for use in public services."
"At present, robots are mainly used in science museums, tourist attractions, public administration service centres, hotel lobbies, as well as for teaching and accompanying purposes," he said.
Mechanical dog with special function
Man ’ s best friend also gave robot makers the inspiration to show off their skills by climbing stairs and shaking their paws.
Unitree Robotics exhibits robotic dogs for domestic companion, industrial patrol and fire rescue purposes.
Its companion robot, the Go 2, is able to interact with humans and walk or dance at will.
Engineers say dogs are designed to be smarter and easier to train than real dogs.
Source: SIPA USA / ChinaImages
Yu Shu's marketing manager Wang Qixin said: "The biggest feature of this robot dog is the installation of 4D laser detection and ranging laser radar (Lidar).
With the laser radar in front, it can sense the surrounding scene in real time and avoid obstacles on its own. ”
He added: “Beyond that, it has powerful conversational artificial intelligence.
We know that big models are popular nowadays, and with powerful conversational AI, it can communicate with its owner. For example, you can call it to go forward or backward, or to dance.
It will hear your voice clearly. "
For about $2,774 (RMB12,913), you can get a robotic pet.
It can also be used as an errand, such as picking up takeaway food and parcels.
Wang said that after years of research and development, these robots have smooth movement and balance, and can move freely in the rough terrain that can trip humans.
"After years of development, this motion control program has been completely green, and it allows our robots to maintain a good balance in any complex environment such as stairs and gravel roads, and can perform some tasks in place of humans."
According to engineer Shao Yuanxin, CyberDog 2 is also able to learn skills, such as switching on and off air conditioners, that are smarter than real dogs and easier to train.
He said: “It ’ s not as naughty as real dogs and the cost of training them is low.
Basically, with a large conversational AI model, after a few simple training will be very obedient.
And it has higher intelligence because it can control smart electronic devices in the home. "
"For example, if you want to turn on the air conditioner, you can't ask a dog to do that, but you can tell it to turn on the air conditioner."
This is a simple example.
It ’ s smarter, more obedient and works better with the smart devices around us. ”
The products on display also have flexible joints.
Source: AAP / Mark R. Cristino / EPA
Robotic arms for medical use
The conference also featured a range of surgical robots, including the da Vinci surgical arm for thoracic and abdominal surgery.
Li Haoyuan works in the market department of robot developer Intuitive Fosun.
"The arm is more fine-tuned, less traumatic, more precise and less harmful to patients," he said.
“Through the operation of the robotic arm, we can avoid unnecessary shaking of the doctor ’ s hands and bring a wider and clearer operational vision to the surgery. ”
In fact, this can reduce the trauma of the patient and make them recover faster. ”
The World Robot Congress will be held in Beijing until August 21.
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Published 21 August 2023 12: 24pm
By Ciara Hain
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The AI Cloud plan allows robotic dog Aibo to do what?

make interactions increasingly personal and unique

What can Dynamic 1, a robotic dog by Tecno, do?

many features to enhance owner interaction

"Yun Yun" is another escort robot with strong memory, able to recall conversations and provide companionship similar to a human.

Despite high prices limiting widespread adoption, China's elderly products market reached 5 trillion yuan in 2023.