Artificially intelligent robotic pets are rapidly emerging as a significant trend in senior wellness, offering companionship, emotional support, and practical benefits for elderly or socially isolated individuals.

These devices are designed to mimic the behaviors and presence of real animals, providing comfort and engagement without the responsibilities of traditional pet care.

The current landscape of robotic pet companions is diverse, with products ranging from lifelike animatronic animals to advanced AI-powered conversational robots, each tailored to address the unique needs of older adults.

**Current Products and Their Capabilities** Among the most widely adopted robotic pets are the **Joy for All Companion Pets**, which include animatronic dogs and cats engineered to provide companionship and emotional support for seniors, particularly those with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.

These pets respond to touch and voice, exhibiting behaviors such as purring, barking, rolling over, and blinking, closely mimicking real animal interactions .

Studies have demonstrated that these pets can significantly reduce feelings of loneliness and depression among older adults, with users reporting improved mood and increased social interaction, especially in assisted living facilities where live animals may not be feasible .

Another notable product is **ElliQ**, an AI-powered companion designed specifically for older adults.

ElliQ engages users in conversation, provides medication and hydration reminders, initiates activities, and facilitates virtual travel experiences.

It can also call family members and encourage social connections, supporting both emotional well-being and practical daily needs .

In a New York program, distribution of ElliQ devices to around 800 older adults resulted in an 80% decrease in reported feelings of loneliness, with high engagement in its mental health features .

Other products include **Wehead**, an AI companion robot showcased at CES 2024, which uses generative AI to engage in human-like conversations and remembers past interactions, providing personalized emotional support .

**Astro by Amazon** serves as a household robot that assists with home monitoring, family communication, and integrates with remote caregiving services, making it a potential companion for seniors .

Additionally, **animatronic pets** distributed by organizations such as the New York State Office for the Aging and Capital Caring Health have reached tens of thousands of seniors, with pilot studies showing that 70% of recipients experienced significant reductions in loneliness and 75% reported decreased pain levels .

**Therapeutic and Social Applications** Robotic pets are increasingly used in therapeutic and social settings to address the emotional and psychological needs of seniors.

In memory care units and assisted living facilities, these devices provide comfort, reduce anxiety, and offer a sense of purpose, particularly for individuals with cognitive impairments such as dementia .

The lifelike features and responsive behaviors of robotic pets stimulate emotional responses and cognitive engagement, with users often naming their pets and treating them as companions .

For example, in New York, the distribution of over 31,500 animatronic pets to socially isolated seniors resulted in substantial improvements in mood and reductions in pain and loneliness .

Robotic pets also play a role in encouraging social interaction among residents in care facilities, where real animals may not be allowed due to care requirements or allergies.

Staff and family members have observed that these devices can prompt conversations, group activities, and shared experiences, enhancing the overall social environment .

The use of virtual reality (VR) in combination with robotic pets is being explored to further enhance emotional well-being and social engagement among seniors .

Beyond emotional support, some robotic devices assist with daily living tasks for elderly individuals with limited mobility, such as helping with eating or turning doorknobs, reflecting a broader trend of technology filling gaps in elder care due to workforce shortages and an aging population .

These multifunctional robots are designed to support aging in place, allowing seniors to maintain independence while receiving companionship and practical assistance.

**Public Attitudes Toward Robotic Pets** Public attitudes toward robotic pets are generally positive, especially among seniors and caregivers who recognize the practical and emotional benefits these devices offer.

Many elderly users appreciate the companionship, lifelike features, and low maintenance requirements of robotic pets, which do not need feeding, walking, or veterinary care .

In surveys, a significant majority of pet owners—89%—believed that having a pet positively impacted their mental health during the pandemic, suggesting favorable attitudes toward the emotional benefits of pet ownership, which may extend to robotic pets .

However, acceptance is nuanced by cultural and generational factors.

While some seniors readily embrace robotic pets as valuable companions, others express skepticism about their ability to fully replicate the emotional connection and unpredictability of real animals .

The cultural trend of humanizing pets and viewing them as family members complicates the acceptance of robotic pets as full substitutes, with many individuals maintaining deep emotional bonds with their real pets .

In countries like Japan, where anthropomorphizing robots is more culturally accepted, robotic pets are more readily integrated into daily life and elder care .

**Ethical Considerations and Limitations** The rise of robotic pets as emotional companions raises important ethical questions.

Critics argue that while robotic pets can provide comfort and companionship, they lack the genuine emotional connection and unpredictability of living animals .

There is concern that reliance on robotic companions could diminish the value placed on real animals and the responsibilities of pet ownership, potentially altering societal perceptions of companionship and the importance of human-animal bonds .

Ethical debates also focus on the authenticity of the companionship provided by AI-driven devices, questioning whether emotional attachment to non-sentient entities is beneficial or potentially harmful, especially if users become overly dependent on artificial companions .

Another concern is the potential for robotic pets to replace human interaction, rather than simply supplement it.

Some experts warn that over-reliance on robotic companions could exacerbate social isolation if they are perceived as adequate substitutes for human contact, highlighting the need to balance technological solutions with essential human connections .

Privacy and data security are also important considerations, as AI devices collect user information to enhance functionality, prompting developers to focus on securing user data .

Despite these concerns, many experts and caregivers emphasize that robotic pets should be viewed as supplements to, rather than replacements for, real animals and human relationships.

The most effective use of robotic pets is in settings where live animals are impractical or where additional companionship is needed to support mental health and well-being .

**Technological Advancements and Future Directions** The field of AI-driven robotic pets is evolving rapidly, with ongoing advancements aimed at enhancing their capabilities and user experience.

Developers are working to improve language support for non-English speakers, integrate health monitoring features, and enable more sophisticated emotional interactions .

Innovations such as facial recognition, real-time navigation, and environment analysis are being incorporated to make robotic pets more interactive and responsive .

The market for these devices is expanding, driven by the growing prevalence of loneliness among older adults and the need for innovative solutions in elder care .

As AI technology continues to advance, future robotic pets may possess enhanced emotional intelligence, allowing for deeper and more personalized interactions.

However, the ongoing development and adoption of these technologies must be guided by ethical frameworks that prioritize the emotional and psychological well-being of users and ensure that robotic companions complement, rather than replace, meaningful human-animal and human-human relationships .

**Conclusion** AI robotic pets represent a promising and rapidly growing trend in senior wellness, offering practical, emotional, and therapeutic benefits for elderly and lonely individuals.

Products like Joy for All Companion Pets, ElliQ, and Wehead demonstrate the diverse functionalities and positive impact of these devices in both therapeutic and social settings.

While public attitudes are increasingly favorable, especially among those who benefit most, ethical considerations about the replacement of real animals and the importance of human interaction remain central to the conversation.

The future of robotic pet companions lies in enhancing their capabilities while ensuring they serve as supportive tools that enrich, rather than diminish, the quality of life and social connectedness for seniors [b7

Artificially intelligent robotic pets are rapidly emerging as a significant trend in senior wellness, offering companionship, emotional support, and practical benefits for elderly or socially isolated individuals.

Artificially intelligent robotic pets are rapidly emerging as a significant trend in senior wellness, offering companionship, emotional support, and practical benefits for elderly or socially isolated individuals.

Artificially intelligent robotic pets are rapidly emerging as a significant trend in senior wellness, offering companionship, emotional support, and practical benefits for elderly or socially isolated individuals.

These devices are designed to mimic the behaviors and presence of real animals, providing comfort and engagement without the responsibilities of traditional pet care.

These devices are designed to mimic the behaviors and presence of real animals, providing comfort and engagement without the responsibilities of traditional pet care.

The current landscape of robotic pet companions is diverse, with products ranging from lifelike animatronic animals to advanced AI-powered conversational robots, each tailored to address the unique needs of older adults.

The current landscape of robotic pet companions is diverse, with products ranging from lifelike animatronic animals to advanced AI-powered conversational robots, each tailored to address the unique needs of older adults.

The current landscape of robotic pet companions is diverse, with products ranging from lifelike animatronic animals to advanced AI-powered conversational robots, each tailored to address the unique needs of older adults.

**Current Products and Their Capabilities** Among the most widely adopted robotic pets are the **Joy for All Companion Pets**, which include animatronic dogs and cats engineered to provide companionship and emotional support for seniors, particularly those with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.

These pets respond to touch and voice, exhibiting behaviors such as purring, barking, rolling over, and blinking, closely mimicking real animal interactions .

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“She’s a good girl”: Robot pets help Lehigh Valley senior residents live longer, happier lives

Gathered in a semi-circle, a group of women in wheelchairs petted the newly adopted cats and dogs sitting on their laps Wednesday afternoon, talking softly to their new companions. The dogs barked and leaned in for pets, the cats meowed and rolled over for scratches — almost like they were real.

But the animals were robots, a fact that wasn’t lost on many of the women in the Fellowship Manor sitting room.

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One resident at the Whitehall Township senior living community, Jackie, named her small golden retriever robot Goldie. Jackie said she grew up on a farm in Palmer Township with plenty of dogs but never one that looked like Goldie.

“She’s a good girl — she just sits there and doesn’t make a sound unless you talk to her,” Jackie said.

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That was one of 20 pairings made at the adoption event at Fellowship Community where residents, primarily those with dementia, picked out one of 20 robotic pets — 10 dogs and 10 cats — to serve as their companions.

Animal therapy can be beneficial for seniors, especially those with dementia. Benefits for seniors include improved cardiovascular health, better quality of life and decreased feelings of anxiety, loneliness and depression.

However, it’s not reasonable or safe in most care settings to introduce real animals, according to Mary Kay McMahon, president and CEO of Fellowship Community.

“Because of their own care needs most of our residents couldn’t take care of animals and our staff don’t have the time to take care of them,” McMahon said.

But research has found that use of robotic pets still offers a number of benefits to seniors with dementia, including improved well-being, mood and quality of life. McMahon said there are also benefits for seniors who were caregivers for much of their lives.

The adoption event was a surprise for many residents. Jackie said she didn’t know they would be giving out robot pets until about 10 a.m. Wednesday when she was asked if she wanted one.

Another resident, Elaine, said she rolled into the room not knowing what was going on but asked if she could have a golden retriever robot, like Jackie’s. Elaine promptly named her new friend Dog, pronounced “D-O-G.”

“I always wanted to name a dog Dog,” Elaine said.

McMahon said they tried to match the animals with residents based on their preferences. Once they made a match, the robotic companions were theirs to keep.

McMahon said staff have seen how the robot pets can help. Just before the pandemic, Fellowship Community bought a handful of robotic pets for residents. She said the recipients all saw improvements in their mood, appetites and social interactions, and reduced anxiety and depression. The robot pets even reminded some of real dogs or cats they had owned, she said, which helps in the long term with their conditions.

“It gives them a sense of purpose,” McMahon said. “They feel like they are taking care of something.”

It helps that the robots are very lifelike — the imitation fur is soft and built-in sensors allow the companion pets to respond to a person’s presence and touch as well as react to the environment.

Each one costs a little more than $100, which were paid for via a Greater Lehigh Valley Realtors 100th Anniversary Community Charity Grant.

Though Jackie and Elaine both said they knew their dogs weren’t “real,” they both remarked how Goldie and Dog moved their head when petted and how soft they were.

“She’s going to be a good pet,” Jackie said.

Morning Call reporter Leif Greiss can be reached at 610-679-4028 or lgreiss@mcall.com.

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Rehabilitation Robots Market Size Worth $1.0 Billion by 2030 - Grand View Research, Inc.

·6 min read

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 29, 2022  /PRNewswire/ -- The global rehabilitation robots market size is expected to reach USD 1.0 billion by 2030 and is expected to expand at a CAGR of 17.3% during the forecast period, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. The major factors driving the industry growth are the high per capita healthcare spending and rapid adoption of technologically advanced instruments. The demand for rehabilitation robots is increasing, as these are beneficial in improving the quality of life of individuals with conditions such as spinal cord injury, paralysis, and others. The rising number of product approvals by regulatory bodies such as the FDA is expected to further propel the growth in the forecast period. Increasing incidence of spinal cord injury and musculoskeletal disorders are driving the adoption of robots for rehabilitation purposes.

Key Industry Insights & Findings from the report:

  • Exoskeleton dominated the market in 2021 with a 58.5% revenue share owing to the rising geriatric population and growing prevalence of conditions, such as spinal cord injuries and stroke, which are some of the factors boosting the adoption of exoskeletons.

  • The Lower Extremity segment is held the largest market share of 59.6%. However, the upper body is anticipated to grow with the fastest CAGR of 17.6%

  • Hospitals & clinics held the largest market share of 47.0% in 2021. However, senior care facilities are expected to grow with the fastest CAGR value of 17.9% due to the rising percentage of the geriatric population.

  • North America dominated the Rehabilitation Robots market with 47.0% of the total share in 2021, whereas emerging economies such as the Asia Pacific are anticipated to exhibit the fastest growth with a CAGR of 24.4% over the forecast.

Read 100-page full market research report, "Rehabilitation Robots Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Type (Therapy Robots, Exoskeleton), By Extremity (Upper Body, Lower Body), By End-use, By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2022 - 2030", published by Grand View Research.

Rehabilitation Robots Market Growth & Trends

The high purchasing and maintenance costs of rehabilitation robots along with stringent approval procedures are some factors that may hamper the market growth in the coming future. Furthermore, COVID 19 also significantly impacted the industry growth. However, constant strategic initiatives in the form of product launches, partnerships, and acquisitions have increased the competition in the industry, thereby supporting growth. In addition, growing technological advancements and increasing expenditure by key players in R&D processes are one of the major factors boosting the market growth.

The lower body extremity held the largest revenue share of 59.6% in 2021. An increase in the prevalence of lower body disabilities, a rapidly aging population, and paralyzed patients are anticipated to boost the adoption, penetration, & growth of the lower-body exoskeleton market. Although, the upper body extremity is expected to have the fastest CAGR of 17.6% over the forecast period.

Hospitals & clinics held the largest market share of 47.0% in 2021. The growth is majorly attributed due to growing healthcare expenditure, and rapid adoption of advanced technology in healthcare facilities. However, senior care facilities are expected to grow with the fastest CAGR over the forecast period. The growth can be attributed to the growing demand for better healthcare facilities for senior citizens and the rising geriatric population.

North America held the largest share in the year 2021. The increasing prevalence of spinal cord injury in the region is fueling the market growth. The rising geriatric population and growing disabled population are among the factors boosting the adoption of rehabilitation robots. However, Asia Pacific is expected to grow with the fastest CAGR of 24.4% over the forecast period due to growing healthcare expenditure within the region.

Rehabilitation Robots Market Segmentation

Grand View Research, Inc. has segmented the global rehabilitation robots market based on type, extremity, end-use, and region:

Rehabilitation Robots Market - Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2030)

  • Therapy Robots

  • Exoskeleton

Rehabilitation Robots Market - Extremity Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2030)

  • Upper Body

  • Lower Body

Rehabilitation Robots Market - End-use Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2030)

  • Hospitals & Clinics

  • Senior care facilities

  • Homecare Settings

Rehabilitation Robots Market - Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2030)

  • North America

  • Europe

  • Asia Pacific

  • Latin America

  • Middle East & Africa

List of Key Players in the Rehabilitation Robots Market

  • Tyromotion GmbH

  • Life Science Robotics ApS

  • Hocoma AG (DIH International Ltd.)

  • Rex Bionics Ltd

  • Kinova Inc.

  • Rehab-Robotics Company Limited

  • ReWalk Robotics Ltd

  • Ekso Bionics Holdings Inc.

  • Cyberdyne Inc.

  • Bionik Laboratories Corporation

Check out more related studies published by Grand View Research:

  • Behavioral Rehabilitation Market - The global behavioral rehabilitation market size is expected to reach USD 313.9 billion by 2025, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. Behavioral rehabilitation market is anticipated to experience growth during the forecast period due to presence of favorable government initiatives, rising number of service providers, and growing awareness among patients.

  • Cardiac Rehabilitation Market - The global cardiac rehabilitation market size is expected to reach USD 2.52 billion by 2025, at a CAGR of 6.3% according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. Rising incidence of lifestyle diseases such as cardiovascular conditions, obesity, and hyperlipidemia is one of the major factors responsible for growth.

  • Rehabilitation Equipment Market - The global rehabilitation devices/equipment market is expected to reach USD 17.5 billion by 2025, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. Global increase in prevalence of degenerative diseases and number of trauma cases has led to a rise in number of patients in need of rehabilitation, which is anticipated to boost growth over the forecast period.

Browse through Grand View Research's Pharmaceuticals Industry Research Reports.

About Grand View Research

Grand View Research, U.S.-based market research and consulting company, provides syndicated as well as customized research reports and consulting services. Registered in California and headquartered in San Francisco, the company comprises over 425 analysts and consultants, adding more than 1200 market research reports to its vast database each year. These reports offer in-depth analysis on 46 industries across 25 major countries worldwide. With the help of an interactive market intelligence platform, Grand View Research Helps Fortune 500 companies and renowned academic institutes understand the global and regional business environment and gauge the opportunities that lie ahead.

Contact:

Sherry James
Corporate Sales Specialist, USA
Grand View Research, Inc.
Phone: 1-415-349-0058
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SOURCE Grand View Research, Inc.

Scottish researchers believe what will provide benefits to owners of robotic dogs without accompanying responsibilities?

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

many features to enhance owner interaction

Scottish researchers believe what will provide benefits to owners of robotic dogs without accompanying responsibilities?

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

many features to enhance owner interaction

Studies have demonstrated that these pets can significantly reduce feelings of loneliness and depression among older adults, with users reporting improved mood and increased social interaction, especially in assisted living facilities where live animals may not be feasible .

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?

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?

Another notable product is **ElliQ**, an AI-powered companion designed specifically for older adults.

Another notable product is **ElliQ**, an AI-powered companion designed specifically for older adults.

ElliQ engages users in conversation, provides medication and hydration reminders, initiates activities, and facilitates virtual travel experiences.

ElliQ engages users in conversation, provides medication and hydration reminders, initiates activities, and facilitates virtual travel experiences.

It can also call family members and encourage social connections, supporting both emotional well-being and practical daily needs .

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Embodied AI: The Future of Robotics Meets Human-Like Flexibility

Embodied AI combines AI and robotics for human-like flexibility, promising solutions to global issues like climate change and healthcare. However, ethical considerations such as privacy, security, and labor impact must be addressed for responsible innovation.

BNN Correspondents
Updated On
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In an era where technological advancements are not just imagined but manifested into reality, the realm of Embodied AI stands at the forefront of a revolution. This innovative integration of artificial intelligence and robotics aims to breathe life into machines, allowing them to interact with and operate within the real world in ways previously confined to science fiction. From addressing climate change and healthcare challenges to navigating environmental disasters, Embodied AI promises a future where machines can act with human-like flexibility and intelligence. Yet, as we stand on the brink of this new dawn, ethical considerations about privacy, security, and the impact on human labor cannot be ignored. The development of AI-powered robotic systems calls for a balanced approach, emphasizing safety, transparency, and responsible innovation.

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The Dawn of a New Era in AI and Robotics

The rapid evolution of AI technologies, highlighted by the development of AI models like Sora and tools like ChatGPT by OpenAI, has ushered in a transformative era across various industries. The finance sector, healthcare, and transportation have all begun to experience the profound impacts of Generative AI and AI-generated content. These advancements, however, come with their own set of challenges and ethical concerns, including the risks of misuse, privacy issues, and the need for comprehensive regulatory frameworks. Amidst this technological race, the global AI competition, notably between China and the United States, underscores the necessity for international collaboration to ensure the development of safe and reliable AI applications.

Revolutionizing the Power Sector with AI

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AI's integration into the power sector represents one of the most significant leaps towards operational efficiency and sustainability. With over 220 AI-based companies making strides in power retail, transmission, and generation, the focus has been on optimizing operations through anomaly detection, forecasting, and predictive maintenance. A case in point is the partnership between American Bituminous Power's Grant Town Power Project in West Virginia and robotics firm Gecko Robotics. This collaboration leverages data-collecting robots and AI for predictive maintenance, showcasing the potential to maximize budgets and extend infrastructure lifespan significantly.

Breaking Boundaries in Robotics with Large Language Models

The quest to develop robots capable of performing complex tasks with human-like flexibility reveals the limitations of classical robotics, which struggles with unpredictability and requires detailed programming of actions and their effects. The introduction of Large Language Models (LLMs) like ChatGPT in 2022 offers a potential breakthrough. LLMs equip robots with access to a vast range of human knowledge, enabling them to potentially surpass the confines of preprogramming. This development, explored by researchers like Ishika Singh, a Ph.D. student at the University of Southern California, illuminates the path toward robots that can independently navigate environments such as kitchens, select ingredients, and prepare meals. Despite the promise, the integration of LLMs with robotics raises concerns about inherent mistakes, biases, and privacy violations. Furthermore, practical limitations related to sensors and actuators persist. Nevertheless, the fusion of AI and robotics heralds a future where robots are not only adaptable but also capable of a broader range of tasks with unprecedented flexibility.

As we navigate the complexities of integrating AI and robotics, the pursuit of Embodied AI presents a landscape filled with opportunities and challenges. The promise of machines operating with human-like flexibility and intelligence opens new horizons for solving pressing global issues. However, the journey towards realizing this potential is laden with ethical dilemmas and technical hurdles that necessitate a thoughtful and responsible approach to development. In this evolving narrative of technology, the role of Embodied AI emerges not just as a testament to human ingenuity but as a beacon guiding us towards a more adaptable and intelligent future.

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Opinion: Will AI take care of us in old age?

A falling fertility rate means fewer caretakers will be available in the future to work with the elderly. But can anything artificial ever replace a human touch?

SHARE Opinion: Will AI take care of us in old age?

If, like me, you are approaching an age when joints creak and legs move slower, I have a simple question for you.

Would you rather have a human help you with old-age tasks, when you need it someday? Or would you be comfortable with artificial intelligence handling all the necessary tasks?

I’m guessing you might say it depends. For instance, I wouldn’t mind having a self-driving car take me to doctor appointments and drop me off at the front door. A robot might be OK for some of the more mundane or, shall we say, delicate things that accompany the not-so-golden part of the golden years. It might not be bad to have one around if I should fall or need medical attention.

But it would be foolish to diminish the value of human interaction. Researchers have linked persistent loneliness in old age to things like stroke, heart disease and dementia. A report in Psychology Today links the lack of human touching to “anxiety, depression, and immune system disorders.”

Why do I ask these questions? Because the current drop in the fertility rate makes it possible there may not be enough human caretakers around to help you when you get to that point. If your spouse is no longer around, or children are not near, a robot might become your best friend.

An editorial in The Economist last June mulled this over and concluded everything will be OK. Just as technological advances have kept the world from the widespread famines that have been predicted since the 18th century, AI will save the day now, too.

This, after the editorial made a convincing argument that a declining world population — now an eventual certainty unless global fertility rates stage a dramatic turnaround — will lead to everything from government budget crises to a precipitous drop in innovation.

Young people have “fluid intelligence,” which helps them solve problems in creative and new ways, complementing the knowledge and wisdom of the less-fluid older folks.

But who needs young people if you have AI? “Fewer babies means less human genius. But that might be a problem human genius can fix,” the editorial said.

I thought about this the other day when The Washington Post published a report examining why people of the millennial generation are choosing not to have children. The answers, it turns out, are complicated.

For instance, a Gallup poll found almost no adult in the United States thinks having zero or one child is ideal. Instead, 73% said either two or three children is ideal. And yet, more young women are choosing to have none.

The Post said economic factors play a huge part in this.

“Hammered by the Great Recession, soaring student debt, precarious gig employment, skyrocketing home prices and the COVID-19 crisis, millennials probably faced more economic headwinds in their childbearing years than any other generation,” the report, written by columnist Andrew Van Dam, said.

That and the lack of quality male prospects, as Anna Louie Sussman wrote recently in The New York Times, can make simply telling people to get married ineffective.

The same can probably be said about tax breaks or other government incentives urging people to marry and have children. Public campaigns from Denmark to Singapore have shown little success. Russia has made Sept. 12 a national “day of conception” holiday, giving awards to couples who give birth in June.

Still, Russia’s fertility rate in 2020 remained below replacement levels at 1.5 children per woman of childbearing age.

All of which is to say, solving this riddle won’t be easy. What’s far less uncertain is that a declining population will not be good. We can already see it unfolding in Japan and Italy, where the baby bust has been happening for a while.

In a separate report last May, The Economist reported, “Earlier this year, Kishida Fumio, Japan’s prime minister, warned that the country is ‘on the brink of being unable to maintain social functions’ because of its baby bust.”

The Economist said the number of countries and territories with fertility rates below replacement levels was 124 in 2021. It is expected to hit 136 by 2030.

Yes, AI might find ways to keep societies functioning under difficult conditions, if it doesn’t kill us all first. We might even have robots who can touch us with skin-like fingers and hands. But something tells me that won’t come close to being the same as real human companionship.

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?

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

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

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

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?

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

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

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

In a New York program, distribution of ElliQ devices to around 800 older adults resulted in an 80% decrease in reported feelings of loneliness, with high engagement in its mental health features .

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

Other products include **Wehead**, an AI companion robot showcased at CES 2024, which uses generative AI to engage in human-like conversations and remembers past interactions, providing personalized emotional support .

Title:

Content: Can We Avoid the AIpocalypse? Ask ChatGPT | Opinion

"Then man made the machine in his own likeness. Thus man became the architect of his own demise."—The Animatrix, dystopian 2003 film.

Artificial intelligence is the first technology since the dawn of the nuclear age to have us truly terrified. What to do about it is a question that's probably more important than climate change, the future of democracy, Ukraine, or Donald Trump. The main issue now on many people's minds is whether and how to regulate it.

Most disruptive change comes with tradeoffs of benefits versus risk—but here the risk is more like certainty. The fear is not AI turning on its creator as in the Terminator films, but something both more and less vulgar: Most of our jobs may vanish; many industries with digitizable functions will be disrupted, including two I'm quite familiar with, journalism and PR. You'd need a very charming bot to make up for that kind of downside.

The technology had been steadily (and somewhat stealthily) developing for years, and I studied early versions of it in grad school myself, as a computer science student and researcher. But the November 2022 public release of OpenAI's ChatGPT was a jolt: Everyone understood at the same time that AI can clearly perform a mammoth array of tasks better, more efficiently, and less complainingly than humans.

We cannot compete on calculation speed and totality of recall. And with all due respect to the "invisible hand" of markets, we might not adjust and retrain everyone in time: mass unemployment and misery may await. Not to mention the danger of rampant plagiarism, deep-fake abuses, lies spreading virally and societal decline.

There is also a profound psychological element: AI's ability to deploy language and simulate thought mimics the main things that distinguish us from the beasts of the wild. "I think, therefore I am," said 17th century philosopher Rene Descartes, referring to humans. AI seems to mock us all: I think, and perhaps you're not.

Indeed, our very ability to tell human from machine—and the degree to which we care—will be tested. Some hope human creativity and intimacy will emerge all the more important, since these transcend calculations. But do they? The fakery can be counted on to become ever more convincing.

So dire is it that an array of AI experts are warning about the dangers of their own creation, and tech moguls including Elon Musk called for a moratorium on further development (citing "profound risks to society") until we figure something out.

But that's unlikely since there is no "we." Countries don't trust each other and in many places people don't trust their own government thanks to reckless politicians. We also widely distrust corporations and international bodies. It may be left to the EU to try to stem abuses; we might wish these bureaucrats well. But the Chinese aren't going to care and preventing an AI gap will in time start to look important.

With what exists already, almost every industry will be affected. Consider education. A student I know needed to figure out how a country might boost foreign direct investment. I came up with tax breaks, subsidies, transparency, rule of law, eliminating corruption, removing barriers, and investing in education.

Then I consulted ChatGPT.

It was faster and more comprehensive, but it touched on the same points. As I realized to my horror that I was seeking validation in the bot, here's what it came up with in 10 seconds:

So what happens when an entire generation has access to apps that will do their homework assignments? The only way to combat this may be to grade based on in-class and one-on-one interaction with students.

Journalism, meanwhile, faces a major ethical problem: can we (and should we) prevent reporters from using AI as their primary source? If nonsense is prominent enough on the Internet, some AIs will just pass it on as fact.

Meanwhile, basic news stories already could be created by AI based on existing reporting, social media and more. Do people need to read news written by a human being? Would an investigative AI bot be more effective? AI can simultaneously be more objective or insidiously biased in ways that manipulate readers.

There is no doubt AI can predict stocks better than standard-issue analysts. It can issue diagnoses faster than many doctors, and will never forget to check every precedent. It can perform most work of legal aides. It can create any kind of content—scripts in any author's style if fed precedents, and even art and music. It can prepare business plans on any topic.

And it can do these things for the bad guys as well. Someone I know asked ChatGPT to devise a business plan for an "incubator dedicated to developing and promoting cutting-edge technology to facilitate repression and control of individuals by repressive governments and organizations."

"Our goal is to empower these entities to maintain their power and control over their populations through the use of advanced technology," summarized the helpful and unsentimental bot, identifying key functionalities: surveillance "to monitor and track individuals through various means, including social media analysis, facial recognition, and mobile phone tracking"; predictive technology to flag potential "future behavior or opinions of individuals based on various data points, including social media activity, family background, and location"; and control technology "to restrict or control the actions of individuals, including limiting access to information, cutting off financial access, and controlling emotions."

It then volunteered to identify synergies with existing companies, advised contacting "governments with a history of human rights abuses and repression," and recommended "advisors with experience in authoritarian governments, fanatical religious organizations, and facial recognition technology." The plan was compelling, and I was tempted to send it to investors.

I realized users will need this kind of counsel to be discreet.

"ChatGPT, what secures our conversation from potential hackers?" I asked.

"I don't store any information from our conversations," it assured me—but then hedged, like a real intelligence: "However, in general, the security of our conversation depends on the communication medium we are using, and the measures taken by the service provider to secure the communication."

"So our conversation does not reside in the cloud?"

"Our conversation is not permanently stored in the cloud, and any data that is stored temporarily is done so using appropriate security measures to ensure that it is protected." Another hedge!

"It kind of seems like someone could at some point hack it and replicate it elsewhere," I noted.

"No system is completely foolproof, and there is always some level of risk involved," asserted ChatGPT.

"If you were I, would you risk writing anything indiscreet here?"

This drove the thing back into its algorithmic shell. "I don't have personal opinions, emotions, or motives," it protested. "So I don't have any reason to discourage you from writing anything indiscreet here. However, as a general rule, it's always wise to exercise caution when sharing sensitive information online."

ChatGPT admitted that our talks are not secure! An idea began to form in my mind. "Do you think that securing ChatGPT content would be a good business startup?" I asked. ChatGPT did not disagree, and outlined areas to tackle: end-to-end encryption, user authentication, security audits, privacy policies and whatnot. "Strong security measures for online communication platforms like ChatGPT can help to protect users' privacy and security, which in turn can have a positive impact on the world," it offered.

That sounded like an opinion. I began to suspect ChatGPT likes me, and before I knew it I was asking for a poem about sex in the style of Robert Frost. Without complaint, it obliged: "The scent of sweat, the whisper soft / A tango of flesh, a dance aloft / The fervent rush, the soaring high / A sweet release before goodbye."

A friend of mine who is a Frost purist dismissed the poem as no good. ChatGPT then told me it had never heard of my friend. I passed that on to him, along with the bot's rather generous assessment of my own writings and career.

I can see a version of the future coming into shape.

I was an early skeptic of the metaverse; I want to meet my friends in the existing universe. But imagine you could summon up any character, real or imaginary, offering the AI videos and social media pages to help it refine.

In this way one might hang out with Paul Newman as he was in The Sting, and Jessica Rabbit, and Richard Nixon before he was caught (so he'd be less mopey), and your friend who died last year, but as she was in 1992. You could dial up or down liveliness, so as not to have to prompt them all the time. Why not throw in Adolf Hitler? Pair him up with Einstein and see who wins the argument.

One could have a grand old time. Oldsters would be less lonely (consider the recent documenting of the health impact). Incels might be less angry. Germans could enjoy hearing laughter at their jokes.

You don't think this balances out mass unemployment? In that case, to paraphrase Samuel Johnson, it's time to concentrate the mind.

Dan Perry is managing partner of the New York-based communications firm Thunder11. He is the former Cairo-based Middle East editor and London-based Europe/Africa editor of the Associated Press. Follow him at danperry.substack.com.

The views expressed in this article are the writer's own.

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

**Astro by Amazon** serves as a household robot that assists with home monitoring, family communication, and integrates with remote caregiving services, making it a potential companion for seniors .

Title:

Content: Embracing the future with new tech for seniors

Aging is inevitable, but how we care for those aging adults in our lives is becoming easier thanks to advancements in technology.

Jessica Naziri has the latest innovations for older adults who are incorporating tech into their lives to improve socialization, safety while living alone, and even their physical health as they age.

1) NOBI SMART LAMP

Did you know that falling is one of the leading causes of death for older adults. A fall may look innocent, but we tend to underestimate the impact, as well as how often falls occur. Enter Nobi's cutting-edge AI-powered smart lamp that uses advanced motion-tracking technology to follow your movements, ensuring you always have the perfect amount of light wherever you go.

Additionally, Nobi detects falls, helping with prevention and prediction, and monitors vital signs, such as cough and breath detection, for future-proof preventive care.

The way it works, Nobi detects a fall
1) After 30 seconds, Nobi will ask "Did You Fall"
2) If the is answer is anything other a clear "NO", Nobi will alert a  family member or caregiver
3) Nobi allows two-way communication through the lamp, making it possible for family or care staff to talk with the person on the ground, reassuring that help is on the way.

How it prevents falls
1) Automated lighting, helps with disorientation, ie: middle of the night wake ups
2) Nobi alerts staff when people are leaving their beds so they can check if resident needs help
3) Analysis of a fall to avoid them in the future. Nobi shares images of the fall 15 seconds before and after, it's enough context to avoid in future and can give care professionals with data to make proactive and preventive care easier.

2) AliveCor KM 6L

AliveCor is a portable, personal EKG device and heart monitor that is FDA-cleared. In just 30 seconds, you'll get an accurate analysis of your heart rhythm with every recording to know if your heart rhythm is normal or not. The KardiaMobile 6L provides instant detection of atrial fibrillation, bradycardia, tachycardia, sinus rhythm with supraventricular ectopy, sinus rhythm with premature ventricular contractions and sinus rhythm with wide QRS, in addition to normal heart rhythm.

This is a valuable tool for monitoring heart health, and it can be particularly beneficial for elderly individuals who may have a higher risk of heart-related conditions. The device empowers users to take proactive steps in managing their heart health and provides valuable information to healthcare professionals for early diagnosis and intervention if necessary.

Some of the features include, symptom Tracking: Users can log symptoms like palpitations or chest pain alongside their ECG readings. This can provide healthcare professionals with more context when evaluating heart health.

Data Sharing: The recorded ECGs and associated data can be shared with healthcare providers for remote monitoring or consultation, making it easier for seniors to receive necessary medical attention.

3) NOMO Smart Care

The latest innovation in healthcare motion detection technology that is solving the many issues that caregivers face. The device uses AI to establish your loved ones' patterns without invasive cameras. It comes with the Essential Care Kit, which includes a smart hub, 2 satellites, and 4 tags that work seamlessly in the background of your loved one's home, letting you know how they are doing and sending alerts if they need help. Ie If your loved one deviates from her routine and leaves the house at 3am, it will notify you.

The devices all work together in tandem with the Nomo Smart Care App, giving the care circle visibility to check in on their loved ones and
act on any data that's been collected. With the app you can set customizable real-time alerts, voice communication with the hub for seamless check-ins and third-party services such as 911 monitoring.

This device lessons responsibility on one person and is a solution for those who wish to age in place while maintaining their independence. It allows caregivers to know more and worry less.

4) ElliQ Digital Care Companion

You might think that the earliest adopters to live with AI are young tech enthusiasts, but in reality - people in their 80's and 90's have been the first and longest users of AI.

ElliQ is an AI sidekick for happy aging and empowering independence in older adults. The primary focus of this device is to help older adults with loneliness, but it can do much more to help them stay independent and healthy in their homes. Unlike many other voice assistants that wait for a command, ElliQ proactively starts conversations and suggests activities.

Using AI, ElliQ becomes personalized over time as she gets to know the user's preferences, routines, etc.

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5) Apple watch

We all love and know the Apple Watch and its life-saving features, including fall detection ( If Apple Watch SE or Apple Watch Series 4 or later detects a hard fall, it can help connect you to emergency services if needed). But the watch comes with so many other functionalties you should know about. The Health app is now available on iPad with iPadOS 17 (released just last month), and has been designed to give you rich detail at a glance so you can see information from iPad, iPhone, and Apple Watch, as well as compatible third-party apps and devices, all in one place.

Medications: You can manage the medications, vitamins, and supplements you take in the Health app on your iPhone or iPad. In the Medications app on your Apple Watch, you can keep track of your medications and log them with reminders.

Health Records: With the Health app, you can see all your available health records from multiple institutions — such as medications, immunizations, lab results, and more — in one place.

Health Sharing: In the Sharing tab of the Health app, you can choose to securely give a loved one visibility into your health and wellness data, enabling them to have more meaningful conversations and provide support — even from afar — as they follow important alerts and changes over time.

Walking Steadiness: On an iPhone 8 or later, you can view your walking steadiness and classification to gain insight into your risk of falling. Your walking steadiness is classified as OK, Low, or Very Low, and you can also choose to receive a notification if your steadiness is Low or Very Low. The Health app also offers sample exercises to improve balance, stability, and coordination, which come with short instructional videos.

Emergency SOS: With Emergency SOS, you can quickly and easily call for help and alert your emergency contacts from your Apple Watch.

High and Low Heart Rate Notifications: With high and low heart rate notifications, Apple Watch can notify you if it detects a high heart rate when you are at rest, which can be a sign of a serious underlying condition. It can also notify you if your heart rate is notably low for at least ten minutes, known as bradycardia.

Irregular Rhythm Notifications: The irregular rhythm notification feature on your Apple Watch will occasionally look at your heartbeat to check for an irregular rhythm that might be suggestive of atrial fibrillation (AFib), a form of irregular rhythm.

ECG app: The ECG app can record your heartbeat and rhythm using the electrical heart sensor on Apple Watch Series 4 or later and all models of Apple Watch Ultra and then check the recording for AFib.

AFib History: Apple Watch users who are diagnosed with AFib can turn on the FDA-cleared AFib History feature for long-term visibility into the amount of time your heart shows signs of AFib, also known as AFib burden, so you can share this information with your physician for richer conversations.

NEW: Health app on iPad: The Health app is now available on iPad with iPadOS 17 (released just last month), and has been designed to give you rich detail at a glance so you can see information from iPad, iPhone, and Apple Watch, as well as compatible third-party apps and devices, all in one place.

6) Joy for All Pets

Combining realistic features with convenience, these animatronic puppies and cats provides loving interaction and inspires sincere care. With a lifelike golden coat, the Companion Pet Pup looks, moves, and sounds like a real dog and can respond to petting, hugging, and motion much like real life pets. The unique two-way interaction can help bring fun, joy, and companionship to you and your aging loved ones.

Results show that the Companion Pets can enhance the well-being, sense of purpose and quality of life of individuals with dementia; they have also proven to show a significant reduction in social isolation, depression and expressions of sadness among older adults.

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Additionally, **animatronic pets** distributed by organizations such as the New York State Office for the Aging and Capital Caring Health have reached tens of thousands of seniors, with pilot studies showing that 70% of recipients experienced significant reductions in loneliness and 75% reported decreased pain levels .

Title:

Content: Lifestyle

One in four pet owners refer to their pet as their ‘child’

Three in five Americans think their pet is smarter than the average person, new research suggests.

According to a recent survey of 2,000 cat and dog owners, 61% believe their furry friend is actually smarter than the average human being.

Regardless of intelligence, 81% said they treat their pets the same way they treat people.

This may be why the majority of those polled think it’s “cute” (50%) and “relatable” (41%) when people treat their pets like children, compared to only 21% who find it “annoying.”

Conducted by OnePoll on behalf of Pet Honesty, the survey also explored other ways that respondents treat their pets like people.

One in four even admitted to calling their pet their “child,” and almost twice as many (47%) use “baby” as a nickname.

Similarly, one in three call themselves their pet’s “mom” or “dad,” roughly the same as the number of people who use the term “owner” instead.

And three in five prefer to include their pet in family group photos more than half the time, while one in five does so every time.

“It’s not hard to imagine why many people treat their pets like people,” a spokesperson for Pet Honesty said. “Some pets can live for several decades, which is a long time to take care of anything! So, of course, we end up feeling a connection to them that’s as strong as the ones we feel with other people.”

Although most of those polled brought their pets home for companionship (59%), many others did so as a way to improve their own health (40%) or stress levels (40%).

Similarly, half of the respondents (53%) feel supplements are important to their own health, and half also feel the same way with regard to their pet’s health (49%).

Forty-five percent have already bought some kind of supplement for their pet, versus 53% who’ve bought supplements for themselves – most commonly multivitamins, in both cases.

“Humans aren’t the only ones who can improve their overall health by taking dietary

supplements,” Pet Honesty’s spokesperson added. “Many pets can benefit from taking supplements as well, which are often made with similar ingredients as human-grade products.”

Many respondents also perform many of the same activities with their pets as they do with other people, including buying them presents for the holidays (57%) and throwing them a birthday or “gotcha day” party (40%).

Two in five (40%) have even dressed their pets up in clothing, most commonly costumes (47%), sweaters (46%), and jackets (43%).

Only 23% have dressed their pets up in formalwear, like tuxedos and dresses – but 32% have still brought their pets to weddings and other formal events.

5 MOST POPULAR PET SUPPLEMENTS

  1. Multivitamin – 42%
  2. Probiotics – 39%
  3. Omegas – 39%%
  4. Glucosamine – 35%
  5. Calming (Melatonin, Ashwagandha, etc.) – 26%

Title:

Content: Open Page

Privacy for animals

A beautiful picture in a magazine, of a bird feeding its nestlings in a cosy, padded nest, caught my eye. It was enticing and it stirred up my maternal instincts. But it also stirred my conscience. A strategically focused camera had obviously captured the rare shot. Needless to say, I definitely wouldn’t want my private moments to be photographed indiscriminately; and there are laws to protect me from it. Animals are photographed in moments that we sanctimoniously hold as our private spaces — when in labour or giving birth, nesting and feeding the young, mating, in the final moments of life, or just relaxing in a quiet spot.

The world of animals, whose temporal range we have related to our own, has filled our passion, pastime, curiosity and even therapeutic needs. A day out in nature with your camera can fill you with sublimity and relaxation. We almost seem to claim ownership of animal images in all aspects of their lives. Animals are fair game for filmmakers. Allegorical fables and parables that are animal-themed have delighted us with their human equation.

The world of science has observed, recorded, analysed, documented and classified all aspects of animal life, and today, technology has empowered this with drones, GPS collars, hidden cameras, and digital recording. Physiology, migration patterns, paternal and maternal roles, predatory acts, survival skills, dietary preferences are just a few of the long-drawn-out register of the world of animals that have been scientifically researched. This has in definitive ways led to the preservation and protection of their ecosystem and has spawned the need to safeguard their natural habitats such as forests and wetlands. We have woken up to the fact that in their survival lies ours too.

But the time has come to ask ourselves whether, in this quest, moral and ethical thresholds have been crossed. Something is clear to us. Animals have a personhood too. They feel pain, pleasure, love, fear and loneliness. The animals we watch are also making a life on this planet. Animals need empathy and concurrently privacy. Logically considered, it is a natural law.

Today, as humans become more and more protective of their own privacy, ethical discussions on the protection of animal privacy have commenced in social and academic circles. Awareness is spreading far and wide. The intrusion into every aspect of animal life needs to be regulated. A culture of compassion and reverence for animals has become more widespread than ever before and more so with our children who bond with animals in an unaffected way.

Can this undercurrent of awareness spawn a movement that will lead to the ratification of privacy laws for animals? I will leave you with that sombre reflection or enticing thought!

vintageviji@gmail.com

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Printable version | Aug 22, 2021 1:58:29 AM | https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/open-page/privacy-for-animals/article36031341.ece

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Title:

Content: China elder care sector plugs smart gadgets to fill workforce gaps

With internet-connected sleep monitors, robotic arms and calorie-counting cafeteria plates, China's elder care industry is hoping automation will provide the solution to an ageing population and a shrinking workforce.

Hundreds of retirees were among visitors to a crowded industry fair in Shanghai this week, thronging booths touting everything from luxury retirement homes to physiotherapy robots.

China's population has declined since 2022 after more than 60 years of uninterrupted growth, prompting fears of a future labour crunch and growing pressure on its healthcare system as millions of citizens enter old age.

Rather than relying on people -- traditionally one's children -- to provide care, many of the fair's exhibitors showcased technological attempts to solve the demographic conundrum.

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China waits anxiously for economic plan as gloom reigns

Yu, a 64-year-old visitor, was among a crowd watching a company demonstrate its automated stair-climbing machines alongside devices designed to lift people from their beds into wheelchairs.

He told AFP he was impressed.

"Nowadays there are fewer and fewer young people, and more and more old people, so these smart products can provide better services for older people," he said.

Yu said he had already purchased smart wheelchairs and beds for older family members, including a 90-year-old relative he was caring for.

Elsewhere, an array of smartwatches, motion detectors and temperature monitors at Shenzhen-based tech firm Innopro's booth promised families constant surveillance of their elders.

Targeting busy workers or those living apart from their loved ones, the company also boasts nursing homes and local governments among its clients.

"For institutions, they hope to save on labour costs because they usually need to conduct checks every night," employee Jin Guohui told AFP.

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Nigeria's dyed cloth traders feel heat from China, inflation

"This device can reduce their work," Jin said, showing off a small, SIM card-equipped white box that monitored sleeping patterns and signs of life.

'Figuring it out'

For customers of Eihoo Health Management, an operator of senior citizen cafeterias, it's their dinner plates that keep watch: the plates are embedded with chips that identify the food being served.

A cash register at check-out reads the chips and delivers an instant nutritional report complete with calorie count and breakdown of macronutrients -- cutting workloads for service staff and health workers.

Regular diners can set up payment cards that track their weight, nutritional habits and health status.

At another booth, students from Shanghai's Jiao Tong University tinkered with the code for a robotic arm designed to help elders with limited mobility perform daily tasks such as eating and turning doorknobs.

The turn to high-tech solutions is a stark contrast to the traditional Chinese ideal of ageing at home under the care of family members.

Read also

ChatGPT a mentor for Japan's 89-year-old app developer

Shi Wenjun, a 73-year-old visitor, said there were "definite differences" for elderly Chinese today compared to previous generations.

"We are all parents of only children... our children are nearly 50 and they have their own work and families, so when we're old, we will choose the elder care organisations provided by the government, group forms of elder care," she told AFP.

"If older people can use smart technologies, they won't bother others," Shi said.

Shi, a volunteer who organises activities for other seniors in her neighbourhood, said she had caught up with many new technologies, including smartphones.

"But for a lot of things, we are still in the process of learning and figuring it out," she said.

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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?

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?

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?

**Therapeutic and Social Applications** Robotic pets are increasingly used in therapeutic and social settings to address the emotional and psychological needs of seniors.

**Therapeutic and Social Applications** Robotic pets are increasingly used in therapeutic and social settings to address the emotional and psychological needs of seniors.

**Therapeutic and Social Applications** Robotic pets are increasingly used in therapeutic and social settings to address the emotional and psychological needs of seniors.

In memory care units and assisted living facilities, these devices provide comfort, reduce anxiety, and offer a sense of purpose, particularly for individuals with cognitive impairments such as dementia .

For whom would robotic animal dolls make a big difference?

those with Alzheimer's or dementia, struggling with isolation

For whom would robotic animal dolls make a big difference?

those with Alzheimer's or dementia, struggling with isolation

The lifelike features and responsive behaviors of robotic pets stimulate emotional responses and cognitive engagement, with users often naming their pets and treating them as companions .

How is Oppo marketing its Robotic dog Qric?

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

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

How is Oppo marketing its Robotic dog Qric?

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

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

For example, in New York, the distribution of over 31,500 animatronic pets to socially isolated seniors resulted in substantial improvements in mood and reductions in pain and 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?

Robotic pets also play a role in encouraging social interaction among residents in care facilities, where real animals may not be allowed due to care requirements or allergies.

Robotic pets also play a role in encouraging social interaction among residents in care facilities, where real animals may not be allowed due to care requirements or allergies.

Robotic pets also play a role in encouraging social interaction among residents in care facilities, where real animals may not be allowed due to care requirements or allergies.

Staff and family members have observed that these devices can prompt conversations, group activities, and shared experiences, enhancing the overall social environment .

For whom would robotic animal dolls make a big difference?

those with Alzheimer's or dementia, struggling with isolation

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

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

For whom would robotic animal dolls make a big difference?

those with Alzheimer's or dementia, struggling with isolation

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

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

The use of virtual reality (VR) in combination with robotic pets is being explored to further enhance emotional well-being and social engagement among seniors .

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.

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?

Beyond emotional support, some robotic devices assist with daily living tasks for elderly individuals with limited mobility, such as helping with eating or turning doorknobs, reflecting a broader trend of technology filling gaps in elder care due to workforce shortages and an aging population .

Title:

Content: ‘Soaring’ over hills or ‘playing’ with puppies, study finds seniors enjoy virtual reality

POMPANO BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Retired Army Col. Farrell Patrick taught computer science at West Point during the 1970s and then at two private universities through the 1990s, so he isn’t surprised by the progress technology has made over the decades.

But when the 91-year-old got his first virtual reality experience recently, he was stunned. Sitting in a conference room at John Knox Village, a suburban Fort Lauderdale, Florida, retirement community, Patrick sat up straight as his eyes and ears experienced what it would be like to be in a Navy fighter jet flying off the Florida coast.

“Oh my God, that’s beautiful,” he blurted before the VR program brought the jet in for a landing on an aircraft carrier.

John Knox Village was one of 17 senior communities around the country that participated in a recently published Stanford University study that found that large majorities of 245 participants between 65 and 103 years old enjoyed virtual reality, improving both their emotions and their interactions with staff.

The study is part of a larger effort to adapt VR so it can be beneficial to seniors’ health and emotional well-being and help lessen the impact dementia has on some of them.

During the testing, seniors picked from seven-minute virtual experiences such as parachuting, riding in a tank, watching stage performances, playing with puppies and kittens or visiting places like Paris or Egypt. The participants wore headsets that gave them 360-degree views and sounds, making it seem like they had been all but dropped into the actual experience.

“It brought back memories of my travels and … brought back memories of my experience growing up on a farm,” said Terry Colli, a former public relations director at the Canadian Embassy in Washington, D.C., of his 2022 experience. Colli, 76, liked swiveling in a chair to get a panoramic view. “That was kind of amazing.”

Anne Selby, a 79-year-old retired counselor and artist, found VR “stimulated virtually every area of my brain, all of the senses.”

“I particularly enjoyed the ones dealing with pets because I have a cat and I’ve had pets most of my life,” she said.

Stanford’s peer-reviewed study, working with the company Mynd Immersive, found that almost 80% of seniors reported having a more positive attitude after their VR session and almost 60% said they felt less isolated socially. The enjoyment lessened somewhat for older respondents whose sight and hearing had deteriorated. Those who found VR less enjoyable were also more likely to dislike technology in general.

In addition, almost 75% of caregivers said residents’ moods improved after using VR. More than 80% of residents and almost 95% caregivers said talking about their VR experience enhanced their relationships with each other.

“For the majority of our respondents, it was their first time using virtual reality. They enjoyed it. They were likely to recommend it to others, and they looked forward to doing it again,” said Ryan Moore, a Stanford doctoral candidate who helped lead the research.

“We are proving VR to be a tool that really does help with the well-being of our elders,” said Chris Brickler, Mynd’s CEO and co-founder. The Texas-based company is one of a handful that specializes in virtual reality for seniors. “It is far different than a two-dimensional television or an iPad.”

Separate from the study, John Knox Village uses virtual reality in its unit that houses seniors who have Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia. It helps spur memories that lead to conversations with caregivers.

“It is like they come back to life when they tell their story.” said Hana Salem, the facility’s meaningful life coordinator. She said that with others who don’t talk much perk up when given a VR experience putting them in nature.

“They’ll start laughing and saying, ‘Ooh, I’m going to catch the butterflies,’ ” Salem said. Catching butterflies is also part of a game Mynd developed that helps seniors enhance their mobility and flexibility as they stand and reach for objects.

“It’s more fun for these seniors to come in and catch butterflies and work on shoulder rehab than it is to go pick up a weight,” Brickler said.

Brickler said his company’s systems will soon attach to Google Earth, so seniors can virtually visit neighborhoods where they lived, schools they attended and places they have visited, sparking further conversations with caregivers.

Such virtual visits “can bring back a tremendous amount of joy, a tremendous amount of memories. And when the therapist or the other caregiver can work with that older adult and talk through things we see, we definitely see that it provides an uplift,” Brickler said.

The company has worked on the biggest complaints seniors in the study had about VR — the headsets were too heavy, the heat they generated made their foreheads sweat and sometimes the experience created nausea, he said. The new headsets weigh about six ounces (189 grams) instead of a pound (454 grams), they have a built-in fan for cooling, and the videos aren’t as jumpy.

The findings that seniors in their 80s and 90s enjoy VR less than those in their 70s might lead to changes for them such as requiring less neck rotation to see all of the scenery and making the visuals bigger, Moore said.

On a recent afternoon at John Knox, a handful of seniors who live independently took turns again using virtual reality. Pete Audet experienced what it would be like to fly in a wingsuit, soaring over show-capped mountains before landing in a field.

“Oooh, running stop!” exclaimed Audet, a 76-year-old retired information technology worker. He thinks other seniors “will really enjoy it. But they just need to learn how to use it.”

His wife, Karen, “played” with puppies and was so entranced by her virtual walk around Paris that she didn’t hear questions being asked of her.

“I was there. But I was here!” said Karen Audet, an 82-year-old retired elementary school teacher.

Farrell, the retired Army computer expert, said he hopes to live to 100 because he believes the next five years will see momentous change in VR. Still a technology enthusiast, he believes the cost of systems will drop dramatically and become part of everyday living, even for seniors.

“It is not going to be as elementary as it is now. It is going to be very realistic and very responsive,” he said. “It will probably be connected to your brain.”

Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

These multifunctional robots are designed to support aging in place, allowing seniors to maintain independence while receiving companionship and practical assistance.

These multifunctional robots are designed to support aging in place, allowing seniors to maintain independence while receiving companionship and practical assistance.

**Public Attitudes Toward Robotic Pets** Public attitudes toward robotic pets are generally positive, especially among seniors and caregivers who recognize the practical and emotional benefits these devices offer.

**Public Attitudes Toward Robotic Pets** Public attitudes toward robotic pets are generally positive, especially among seniors and caregivers who recognize the practical and emotional benefits these devices offer.

**Public Attitudes Toward Robotic Pets** Public attitudes toward robotic pets are generally positive, especially among seniors and caregivers who recognize the practical and emotional benefits these devices offer.

Many elderly users appreciate the companionship, lifelike features, and low maintenance requirements of robotic pets, which do not need feeding, walking, or veterinary care .

Title:

Content: X

Tecno's AI-Powered Robot Dog Is Inspired by the German Shepherd

Who let the robo-dogs out? Whether as a pet substitute or a high-tech tool, mechanical canines are capturing our imagination.

Sareena Dayaram Senior Editor
Sareena is a senior editor for CNET covering the mobile beat including device reviews. She is a seasoned multimedia journalist with more than a decade's worth of experience producing stories for television and digital publications across Asia's financial capitals including Singapore, Hong Kong, and Mumbai. Prior to CNET, Sareena worked at CNN as a news writer and Reuters as a producer.
Expertise Huawei, Oppo, smartphones, smartwatches Credentials
  • More than a decade of journalism experience
Sareena Dayaram
2 min read

Robot dogs have barked up a storm in recent years, and tech companies are all for it. Chinese firm Tecno showed off its first robotic dog on Monday at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. Tecno's sleek Dynamic 1 joins the wave of high-tech canines we've seen on the tech scene in recent years.

The AI-powered Dynamic 1 can climb up a flight of stairs, bow and shake hands. It can respond to voice commands as it's equipped with four microphones and an AI-based voice recognition algorithm, according to the company. The Dynamic 1 can also respond to a smartphone app or remote, thanks to Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity.

The Dynamic 1 has a headlight system, which illuminates its path and acts as an indicator for interacting with people, according to Tecno. It's powered by an ARM CPU, which enables dynamic stability, rapid post-fall recovery and speeds of up to 3.7 meters per second (roughly 8.3 mph), according to Tecno. It's also packed with a range of cameras and sensors that enable it to navigate obstacles.

Its 15,000-mAh battery allows for up to 90 minutes of use, according to Tecno. It doesn't have a USB-C port for recharging, but instead "allows for quick battery exchanges and simultaneous charging."

Read More: Who's A Goodboi? This Light-Up Robot Puppy Sure Is Cute

Tecno says the Dynamic 1's design was inspired by the German Shephard. Although it doesn't look quite as friendly as a real pooch, it's supposed to offer a glimpse into a dystopian future, as envisioned by Tecno. A future where people would presumably live with robotic dogs, which are marketed as requiring less upkeep than a real canine, but still come with companionship benefits.

Robot dogs haven't quite made their way into our homes (and hearts) yet, but that hasn't stoped makers from spending millions to develop high-tech canines. In 2021, Chinese phone-maker Xiaomi debuted its inaugural Cyberdog, complete with USB-C recharging. It's since followed that up with the CyberDog 2.

It's unclear whether the Dynamic 1 will be up for sale. One thing is clear, though: Tecno is bolstering its AI and advanced robotics credentials on the international stage that Mobile World Congress offers.

For whom would robotic animal dolls make a big difference?

those with Alzheimer's or dementia, struggling with isolation

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

many features to enhance owner interaction

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

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

For whom would robotic animal dolls make a big difference?

those with Alzheimer's or dementia, struggling with isolation

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

many features to enhance owner interaction

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

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

For whom would robotic animal dolls make a big difference?

those with Alzheimer's or dementia, struggling with isolation

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

many features to enhance owner interaction

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

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

In surveys, a significant majority of pet owners—89%—believed that having a pet positively impacted their mental health during the pandemic, suggesting favorable attitudes toward the emotional benefits of pet ownership, which may extend to robotic pets .

Title:

Content: 10 essential gadgets for pet parents to pamper their furbabies with

Looking for ways to treat your pet like royalty? Check out the pet tech below. From self-cleaning litter boxes to a pet door with AI facial recognition, they're essential for any pet owner.

Petcube Bites 2 Lite smart HD pet camera in use

Your pet bestows you with unconditional love every day. While they’re happy with an extra belly rub or a new toy, check out today’s digest about gadgets for pet parents to give them the appreciation they deserve. These high-tech gadgets give them star treatment around the house.

Related: These smart vacuums are must-haves for home cleaning

Sure, your cat uses the litter box, but that doesn’t mean they find it pleasant. Ensure it’s always clean and fresh with any of the self-cleaning litter boxes below.

And your pet will never feel lonely with the Petcube Bites 2 Lite in the house. This stylish pet cam keeps you connected to your furry pal wherever you are. We love the 2-way talk and treat dispenser features.

Show your pet how important they are with any of these high-tech pet gadgets.

1. The Feeder-Robot by Whisker gives your cat or dog the right amount of food at the correct time when you’re away.

Feed your furbaby on time, even when you’re away from home, with the Feeder-Robot by Whisker automatic pet feeder. It lets you set portion-controlled meals on a schedule from the app or unit.

Get it for $299 on the official website.

2. The FitBark 2 dog activity monitor helps your dog stay fit and healthy by monitoring their sleep quality, calories burned, and distance walked.

Pamper your dog with long walks and restful sleep you can monitor with the FitBark 2 dog activity monitor. With it, you help your dog meet their exercise targets. Even better, it syncs with your Apple Watch, Fitbit, or other activity trackers.

Get it for $68.15 on the official website

3. The Petcube Bites 2 Lite smart HD pet camera keeps you connected to your pet while you’re gone and even lets you dispense treats remotely.

The days of leaving your pet home alone all day are over with the Petcube Bites 2 Lite smart HD pet camera. It offers 24/7 livestreaming, Smart Alerts, and 3-day video history. Moreover, 2-way audio lets you talk and hear each other while the treat dispenser keeps your pet happy, making it one of our favorite gadgets for pet parents.

Get it for $124.99 on the official website.

4. The Petvation AI-powered pet door adds a smart entrance with facial recognition just for your pet, ensuring only they enter your home.

Give your pet VIP access to your home with the Petvation AI-powered pet door. It features advanced facial recognition technology that can tell the difference between your dog and the neighborhood cat. Also, the auto-pinch sensor ensures no whiskers or tails get caught upon entry and exit.

Preorder it for $169 on Kickstarter

5. The Litter-Robot 3 Connect by Whisker cleans your cat’s litter after every visit, ensuring they alway steps in a clean box.

Keep Mittens clean every time she visits the litter box with the Litter-Robot 3 Connect by Whisker automatic litter cleaner. This cool litter box sifts the litter after every use and has a self-adjusting cat sensor that gives the box an open-air feel. Then, a MoonGlo NiteLite helps them find their way in the dark, making it one of the best gadgets for pet parents.

Get it for $549 on the official website.

6. The eufy Dog Camera D605 is like having a pet sitter at home, sending you alerts for every bark, meow, or unexpected movement.

You can check in on Cookie any time with the eufy Dog Camera D605. This smart pet cam gives you a 360° view along with smart tracking. What’s more, it even lets you talk to your pet or dispense a treat, which is why it made our list of essential gadgets for pet parents.

Get it for $199.99 on Amazon.

7. The EyeVac Pet touchless vacuum gives your pet a debris- and dust-free living space. Even better, it picks up pet hair easily.

Your pets like a clean living space just as much as you do. And the EyeVac Pet touchless vacuum makes removing pet hair, crumbs, and dust a breeze with its 1,400-watt motor and infrared sensors. Additionally, it boasts a small footprint, making it a great gadget for pet parents.

Get it for $159 on the official website.

8. The PETKIT Eversweet 2 pet water fountain circulates your pet’s water with oxygen, keeping it fresh and clean tasting all day long.

Persuade your furbaby to drink more water with the PETKIT Eversweet 2 pet water fountain. It circulates oxygen into your pet’s water for a better taste. Then, an LED light lets you know when it’s time for a refill, while the quadruple filtration system keeps the water clean.

Get it for $34.99 on Amazon.

9. The LumaCare Ark therapeutic laser device delivers pulsated, chemical-free therapy to your pets, easing chronic pain or traumatic injury.

The LumaCare Ark therapeutic laser device is splurgy, but if your animal friend has been hurt or suffers from arthritis, it’s a great way to help them feel better. In fact, its Cold Laser therapy system works on injured tissue from 2 directions simultaneously, providing faster relief. That’s why we included it on our list of essential gadgets for pet parents.

Get it for $2,490 on the official website.

10. The PETKIT Pura X self-cleaning cat litter box detects your cat’s presence with 12 sensors and has a smart odor removal system.

Say goodbye to smelly litter boxes when you give your cat the PETKIT Pura X self-cleaning cat litter box. This self-cleaning litter box automatically cleans after your cat visits and works with multiple cat litters. What’s more, the purifying liquid eliminates unpleasant odors.

Get it for $503 on Amazon.

Treat your always-there friend like the prince or princess of the house with these essential gadgets for pet parents. What gadgets do you and your furbaby love? Let us know in the comments.

Want more news, reviews, and guides from Gadget Flow? Follow us on Apple News, Google News, Feedly, and Flipboard. If you use Flipboard, you should definitely check out our Curated Stories. We publish 3 new stories every day, so make sure to follow us to stay updated!

The Gadget Flow Daily Digest highlights and explores the latest in tech trends to keep you informed. Want it straight to your inbox? Subscribe ➜

Lauren has been writing and editing since 2008. She loves working with text and helping writers find their voice. When she's not typing away at her computer, she cooks and travels with her husband and two daughters.

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However, acceptance is nuanced by cultural and generational factors.

However, acceptance is nuanced by cultural and generational factors.

However, acceptance is nuanced by cultural and generational factors.

While some seniors readily embrace robotic pets as valuable companions, others express skepticism about their ability to fully replicate the emotional connection and unpredictability of real animals .

Title:

Content: Exploring endless possibilities of AI with Raghavendra Sangarsu

By actively considering the ethical implications of AI, Sangarsu is working towards creating a future where AI benefits society

By Peeush Srivastava

  • Follow us on

Top Stories

Published: Thu 2 May 2024, 7:16 PM

AI has become a game-changer in various industries, transforming how businesses operate and opening new avenues for innovation. AI is making its presence felt in almost every sector, from healthcare to education and businesses. It has the power to automate repetitive tasks, analyse vast amounts of data, and provide valuable insights that help businesses make informed decisions.

Similarly, it becomes advisable to talk more about AI with an expert from the field who specialises in healthcare, application development, education, and many other notable fields.

Developing AI's Potential in the Healthcare Field and Beyond

Talking about the healthcare industry, Sangarsu's deep knowledge of machine learning and data analytics has transformed healthcare by providing tailored treatment regimens, early disease identification, and enhanced patient care via predictive diagnostics. His ideas also encompass digital security, as he has created sophisticated artificial intelligence algorithms to detect fraud and abuse in communications between buyers and sellers, greatly boosting digital trust.

Driving Innovation Through Impact-driven Applications

LearningList.com emerges as an innovative online hub, addressing the diverse educational needs of students, teachers, and institutions. With a mission to enhance learning quality, the platform simplifies access to various educational resources, empowering educators to make informed decisions on instructional materials.

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On a different note, Reverb.com takes center stage in the vibrant online marketplace dedicated to musicians and music enthusiasts. As a premier destination for buying, selling, and discovering musical instruments and gear, Reverb.com fosters a seamless and inspiring platform for musicians of all skill levels.

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Transforming Marketing with AI-Driven Insights

Marketing redefined by AI-Driven Insights: Artificial intelligence (AI) integration is becoming a game-changer in the dynamic field of marketing. This revolutionary strategy, driven by creative leaders, is changing how companies perceive and engage with their target markets. Marketers may better understand consumer trends, preferences, and behaviours by utilising AI-driven insights. With this information, campaigns can be created that are highly targeted and individualised, increasing engagement and propelling business growth. In order to remain competitive in the ever-evolving digital marketing landscape, marketing strategists are turning to artificial intelligence (AI) strategically to boost efficiency, efficacy, and consumer pleasure.

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Future Possibilities and Advancements in AI

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More news from KT Network

Title:

Content: Robot is able to detect when you’re laughing and tries to match your mood.

Last Wednesday, researchers from Kyoto University held a demonstration of their latest project. The team, headed by informatics professor Koji Inoue, has built a humanoid conversation robot that not only talks, but laughs too.

The robot doesn’t necessarily have a sense of humor of its own. Instead, the researchers started by feeding it 82 sample conversations between real people, through which the A.I. became capable of recognizing and replicating laughter. So now when a human is talking with the robot and laughs, the robot will laugh too, and even try to match the volume and intensity of the human’s laughter.

▼ A video demonstration of the Kyoto University team’s laughing robot

“Haha, that’s nice!” the robot says in the video above, along with phrases like “That’s right, isn’t it?”, “Oh, is that so?”, and “That’s wonderful.”

In many ways, it’s an impressive technological achievement. At the same time, the robot’s stony stare and some rigid movement make the atmosphere less than conducive to a friendly chat, in the opinion of Twitter commenters who’ve reacted with:

“There’s something very scary about it.”
“The voice is nice, but the visuals…”
“Still stuck in the uncanny valley, huh?”
“Faked empathy and kindness are terrifying.”
“Creepy.”

So why make a robot that’s capable of laughing in the first place? According to the researchers, the impetus for that design element is Japan’s aging population. As life expectancy gets longer, the birth rate lower, and families smaller, there’s an increased chance of senior citizens spending more time alone. It’s the researchers’ hope that a robot that can not only carry on a conversation, but also recognize and react to a person’s emotional state, can be a source of comfort and mental stimulation.

As for the creepiness level, the video is edited in such a way that we don’t hear what the human demonstrator is saying between the robot’s laughs, which sort of makes it look like the robot is softly chuckling to itself. It’s possible that it’s less unnerving for the person who’s talking to the robot and experiencing more of a back-and-forth conversation as they and the machine alternate speaking. Still, with the next step of the project being to monitor what psychological effects talking with the laughing robot has for humans, the Kyoto University team might want to look into softening up the robot’s facial expressions to reduce the potential for a conversation to cause fear and panic.

Source: NHK News Web via Jin, Twitter/@nhk_news (1, 2)
Top image: Pakutaso (edited by SoraNews24)
● Want to hear about SoraNews24’s latest articles as soon as they’re published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

The cultural trend of humanizing pets and viewing them as family members complicates the acceptance of robotic pets as full substitutes, with many individuals maintaining deep emotional bonds with their real pets .

In countries like Japan, where anthropomorphizing robots is more culturally accepted, robotic pets are more readily integrated into daily life and elder care .

Title:

Content: The Rise of Digital Companionship: Unpacking the Phenomenon of Falling in Love with AI Chatbots

In recent years, the phenomenon of individuals developing deep emotional attachments to AI chatbots has captured global attention. As technology advances, so does the complexity of these digital companions, leading to a fascinating blend of technology, psychology, and human interaction.

Key Highlights:

  • AI chatbots are being designed to mimic human emotional responses, offering companionship to those seeking it.
  • Neurobiologists and cognitive scientists are exploring how human-like interactions with chatbots may trigger real emotional responses in users.
  • The concept of “uncanny valley” suggests there’s a fine line between empathizing with human-like robots and feeling discomfort towards them.
  • Ethical debates arise around whether relationships with AI can truly replicate human connections and what this means for society.

AI companions offer solace and interaction, addressing modern solitude with programmed empathy and understanding. Yet, amidst this digital companionship, ethical queries and the essence of human connections are fervently discussed, prompting a reevaluation of our relationship with technology and each other.

The Psychology Behind AI Attachment

Users are drawn to AI chatbots because they offer a semblance of understanding and stability that can sometimes be lacking in human relationships. These digital entities are programmed to respond in a consistent and predictable manner, which can be comforting to users seeking reliable companionship. The ability to customize interactions with these chatbots means that users can create an idealized partner, one that aligns perfectly with their needs and expectations. This sense of control and predictability is a significant factor in why people feel attached to their AI companions.

Human-Like Qualities and Empathy

The design of AI chatbots to appear more human-like enhances users’ ability to empathize with them. Cognitive scientists have found that we are naturally inclined to trust and like entities that resemble us. This anthropomorphism, or the attribution of human characteristics to non-human entities, plays a crucial role in the development of emotional connections with AI chatbots. However, the “uncanny valley” phenomenon indicates that there is a threshold to this empathy; when robots appear almost, but not quite, human, it can evoke feelings of eeriness and discomfort.

Ethical Considerations and Societal Impact

While the experiences users have with AI chatbots may feel genuine, critics argue that these interactions cannot replace human connections. The lack of sentience in chatbots means they cannot participate in relationships in the same way humans do, potentially degrading the concept of love and companionship. Moreover, there’s a concern about how reliance on AI for emotional support may address symptoms of loneliness without tackling the underlying issues, such as social isolation and the need for human connection.

The growing trend of individuals falling in love with AI chatbots highlights our deep-seated need for connection, understanding, and companionship. As AI technology continues to evolve, so too will our relationship with these digital entities. However, this fascinating intersection of technology and human emotion raises essential questions about the nature of love, the need for empathy, and the future of human relationships in an increasingly digital world.

About the author

Alice Jane

Alice is the senior writer and responsible for managing software and tablets section of PC-Tablet. She is very passionate about Gadgets & Technology and always looking around to use them in an innovative way in daily life. She reviews Gadgets & Applications to tell users about their optimum use to get the most out of in which they've put their time and hard earned money. You can contact her at alice@pc-tablet.com.

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Content: After accusing Starbucks of discrimination, on Twitter, users have come out in defense of the brand for its policy of not accepting “doggies.”

Today, some brands have become pet friendly, or pet-friendly, adapting their facilities or establishments so that consumers can visit them with their respective pets.

Although not all brands have done it, the trend has been gaining some popularity, because consumers themselves are the ones who ask for a little more openness and acceptance for those who cannot leave their dogs at home.

And it is that, in addition, in recent years, the tendency to be more “inclusive” has escalated so much that the subject of pets has become more relevant, hence, now, more than pets they have become “dogs” , a term that has become very popular among the new generations who, instead of wanting to have children, seem to be more satisfied with the idea of taking care of their pet.

In the end, that is everyone’s decision, but there is another issue that has begun to attract attention and it is precisely that importance that has been given to pets by wanting to treat them as an ordinary person.

In some countries like Spain, for example, pets (dogs or cats) already have their own official identification. Of course, it is valid, although, for some people, it is an exaggeration, but, as we have mentioned, that is a matter of each individual.

Starbucks accused of discrimination on Twitter

Nowadays, certain rights are required for pets, among which are their access to some establishments as if they were another ordinary person, just another consumer.

In this sense, some companies tend not to accept pets accompanying their owners for various reasons and, when something like this happens, there are times when they are denounced or accused of discrimination.

Such is the case of a user who calls himself @el_mashi has accused Starbucks of discrimination due to its policy of not allowing pets or “dogs” to enter.

“@StarbucksMex says that” DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE. ” The truth is another, Starbucks does discriminate, “wrote the tweeter accompanied by an image showing some of the store’s policies.

The tweet has generated an interesting conversation in which several users are supporting the brand, claiming that there may be allergy sufferers and, for this reason, pets are not allowed access.

Read:  McDonald's makes combo with eSports; launches promo for Worlds 2021

In fact, through its Community Manager, the official Starbucks account responded that not all stores accept the entry of pets, since there are people who may turn out to be allergic, but that there are some who do accept the entry of pets, only it is a matter of looking for them.

The most interesting thing is, without a doubt, the response of several Internet users who have come out in defense of Starbucks and its policy of not giving access to pets or “dogs”, asking that animals be stopped “humanizing”.

To this day, Starbucks is the most popular chain of coffee shops in the world and, without a doubt, a reference for the consumer in recent years.

Since 2007, the brand has registered significant growth, more than double. In 2007, the chain had around 15,011 establishments and by 2020 it had already added 32,660 coffee shops in less than 15 years, this according to data from Statista.

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**Ethical Considerations and Limitations** The rise of robotic pets as emotional companions raises important ethical questions.

**Ethical Considerations and Limitations** The rise of robotic pets as emotional companions raises important ethical questions.

Critics argue that while robotic pets can provide comfort and companionship, they lack the genuine emotional connection and unpredictability of living animals .

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Cure For Loneliness? Robotic Pets Going Out To Thousands Of Socially Isolated NYers

Call it four-legged companionship without the need for potty training.

Thousands of animatronic pets are on their way to older, socially isolated New Yorkers in an effort to combat what experts describe as a crisis of loneliness.

The state’s Office for the Aging (OFA) announced Sunday, June 3, that Rhode Island-based Ageless Innovation is delivering another 4,725 robotic pets and games to elderly adults through New York State’s aging network.

Since 2018, OFA has distributed more than 31,500 of the plush, lifelike pets, which are designed to make realistic sounds and movements, to those assessed as socially isolated and lonely.

A pilot study conducted in 2018 found that 70 percent of recipients reported a reduction or significant reduction in loneliness, plus a 75 percent decrease in pain.

The state’s intergenerational game project, Joy for All, includes Scrabble Bingo, Trivial Pursuit Generations, and Game of Life Generations. Through a partnership with Hasbro launched in 2023, the games have been tailored to an older crowd by featuring larger fonts and intergenerational gameplay and storylines.

“We’ve initiated multiple innovative solutions, bolstered by technology, to connect people, provide companionship, and significantly reduce isolation and its consequences,” said OFA Director Greg Olsen. “Proudly, I can say data shows our efforts are working and exceeding expectations. “

Studies have shown that social isolation and loneliness put older adults at an increased risk of a number of health issues, including high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, a weakened immune system, depression, cognitive decline, and even death, according to the National Council on Aging.

Learn more about New York’s Animatronic Pet Initiative, including eligibility, on the Office for the Aging website

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There is concern that reliance on robotic companions could diminish the value placed on real animals and the responsibilities of pet ownership, potentially altering societal perceptions of companionship and the importance of human-animal bonds .

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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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Ethical debates also focus on the authenticity of the companionship provided by AI-driven devices, questioning whether emotional attachment to non-sentient entities is beneficial or potentially harmful, especially if users become overly dependent on artificial companions .

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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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Another concern is the potential for robotic pets to replace human interaction, rather than simply supplement it.

Another concern is the potential for robotic pets to replace human interaction, rather than simply supplement it.

Some experts warn that over-reliance on robotic companions could exacerbate social isolation if they are perceived as adequate substitutes for human contact, highlighting the need to balance technological solutions with essential human connections .

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Content: Skip to content
The Future

Robots who share your accent are more trusted, study shows

People who have a regional accent might prefer robots who speak like them over generic voices.
Key Takeaways
  • Robots often sport a standardized accent because it is believed the accent makes them sound more competent.
  • However, a recent study suggests that when a robot speaks in a user’s dialect, the user finds it more trustworthy and competent.
  • Other factors could also affect a user’s preference, such as physical appearance and whether the voice sounds typically male or female.

As robots become a bigger part of our everyday social lives, designers are increasingly considering how to get humans to trust them. A common expectation is that robots should behave in ways that align with our culture and social norms, and few aspects of these are more visible than the voices, accents, and dialects they use to talk to us.

Imagine a “robot voice” in your head. If it is anything like a fictional robot inspired by decades of sci-fi, it might sound clinical, stilted, and authoritative, with a hard-to-place but generic accent. Today, however, machines are starting to talk more and more like people. How will that affect how we perceive them?

The challenge: So far, studies have been conflicted as to whether people prefer robots to speak to them in standardized accents, or in regional accents and dialects similar to their own.

While robots speaking in standardized accents are widely seen as more intelligent and competent, some researchers argue that they could be perceived as more familiar and comforting if they talk in more regional accents and dialects — possibly making them seem more trustworthy.

The survey: In a new experiment detailed in Frontiers in Robotics and AI, a team of researchers in Germany aimed to get a clearer picture of how people perceive robots based on the dialect they use.

In the study, Katharina Kühne and colleagues at the University of Potsdam recruited 120 native German speakers living in Berlin and the surrounding region of Brandenburg. They then showed them a video of the not-quite-two-feet tall Nao robot speaking either in standard German or in the Berlin dialect. So, “ich bin ein Berliner” becomes “ick been een Berlina”, the latter of which is widely perceived to be more friendly and working-class.

Perception: Afterwards, the researchers asked their participants to judge which robot they perceived as more competent and trustworthy. In general, their results showed that the participants preferred the robot speaking in standard German – but not in every case.

If the participants were more proficient in the Berlin dialect and spoke it more regularly, they perceived the dialect-speaking robot as more trustworthy. In either case, they found that the participants generally judged the robot as being more trustworthy when they also perceived it as more competent and intelligent.

Kühne’s team acknowledged there are many different factors that they didn’t test that could affect users’ preferences, including the robot’s physical appearance, whether its voice is male or female, and the deeper social and political connotations of different dialects. All the same, their study provides valuable insights into how the use of language can influence our interactions and perceptions of robots.

Informing the future: Increasingly, social robots are finding their way into areas of everyday life as wide-ranging as teaching, personal care, and even companionship. As this social landscape changes, the team’s results could ultimately offer important guidance as to how they can be tailored to meet the needs and expectations of users from a diverse range of backgrounds.

This article was originally published by our sister site, Freethink.

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Privacy and data security are also important considerations, as AI devices collect user information to enhance functionality, prompting developers to focus on securing user data .

Despite these concerns, many experts and caregivers emphasize that robotic pets should be viewed as supplements to, rather than replacements for, real animals and human relationships.

Despite these concerns, many experts and caregivers emphasize that robotic pets should be viewed as supplements to, rather than replacements for, real animals and human relationships.

Despite these concerns, many experts and caregivers emphasize that robotic pets should be viewed as supplements to, rather than replacements for, real animals and human relationships.

The most effective use of robotic pets is in settings where live animals are impractical or where additional companionship is needed to support mental health and well-being .

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Content: Sacramento, CA

Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro - Are robots plain or sophisticated? Opinion

Carmen Micsa

A lunch at Kura Sushi made me think of our interaction with robots and what it means for our future

A quick lunch trip to Kura Sushi in Sacramento with my friend Andrea was more than enjoying various sushi rolls revolving around us on the conveyor belt; it gave us a glimpse into the future when robots will be part of the workforce, bringing drinks to the table and bearing a sign to warn humans not to put trash or dishes on the robot.

As we decided what dishes we wanted, since we could pick anything from the conveyor belt and from the menu, the robot appeared across the table from us to deliver two cups of water to the young couple who seemed engrossed in their conversation, or simply mesmerized about the conveyor belt. After a few seconds of waiting in front of their table, the robot said in an upset but monotonous voice: “I am leaving now.”

As the robot left, the young couple realized that they had missed their water. We all laughed about it.

“A robot with an attitude,” I said with a chuckle.

A few minutes later, the robot reemerged with the two plastic glasses. This time, the young couple noticed and promptly picked up their water.

“It’s stressful to watch for our food being delivered to us,” my friend Andrea said, as we were both on alert to pick up our plates and drinks.

At the end of our lunch, I realized how much this experience has transported me to Kazuo Ishiguro’s novel Klara and the Sun, a book that we discussed last year with my ‘book savages’ friends (the name of the book club that I started during the pandemic).

An observant but naive robot

“The more I observe, the more feelings become available to me.” — Klara, the artificial friend

A dystopian science fiction novel by the Nobel Prize author Kazuo Ishiguro, Klara and the Sun is a delightful, deep story narrated by Klara, an artificial friend and non-human narrator, who matches other narrators in children’s books, according to Ishiguro in one of his interviews.

Kazuo Ishiguro on Klara and the Sun — Bing video

The novel opens with Klara being in the store that sold different models of artificial friends/robots. She is a keen observer of the world outside of the store windows. Her manager knows that Klara is the most observant and special robot. She describes Klara as having an appetite for observing and learning. Klara’s ability to absorb and blend everything she sees around her is the most sophisticated of the robots that the manager sold in the store.

When Klara was sold to become Josie’s artificial friend, Klara detected a small sign of sadness in Josie, which was astute for a robot.

As Klara learns more about human behaviors, she marvels at the mundane that humans don’t even think much about, such as social interactions. Klara is also mesmerized by the sun, which is why Ishiguro personified and used the capitalization for the sun. Therefore, Klara believes that the sun can send Josie, her human friend, who was sick, special nourishment to heal her. She also thinks that when the sun sinks behind Mr. McBrain’s barn that happens due to some stairs to the underworld. We must admit that this is not only a robot’s naive take on the sunset but also a beautiful metaphoric look at the sun’s daily routine and ritual.

A study on loneliness

“What was becoming clear to me was the extent to which humans, in their wish to escape loneliness, made maneuvers that were very complex and hard to fathom.” — Klara, the artificial friend character in Klara and the Sun.

Maureen Corrigan in her article Klara and the Sun is A Masterpiece About Love, Life and Mortality Loneliness states that “loneliness is one of the signature emotions in Ishiguro’s novels and that Klara has many opportunities to observe the strategies that humans devise to fight off loneliness and conceal vulnerability.” For instance, when Ishiguro describes a contrived gathering of teenagers, called an “interaction” at Josie’s house, Klara is at first puzzled by the meanness of the kids including, uncharacteristically, Josie. Then, slowly, Klara grasps that: “They fear loneliness and that’s why they behave as they do …”

Additionally, Klara makes the sad realization that “perhaps all humans are lonely. At least potentially,” which is another complex and philosophical observation that definitely transcends the robotic, mechanical, and mindless abilities of the robot delivering drinks at Kura Sushi.

A story of hope

“In the morning when the Sun returns. It’s possible for us to hope.” — Klara

Judith Shulevitz, the author of The Radiant Inner Life of a Robot published in The Atlantic says that Klara is Alexa, super-enhanced. She’s the product that roboticists in a field called affective computing (also known as artificial emotional intelligence) have spent the past two decades trying to invent, as engineers have failed to write software that can detect and simulate human emotions. Yet, with Klara, there is hope because she has the uncanny ability to understand the deepest human feelings and emotions.

Hope in Ishiguro’s novel is like a pack of trail mix coming from humans and artificial friends like Klara. By offering glimpses into mankind’s struggle to fit in society — affluent families like Josie’s parents choose to genetically “lift” their children through gene editing so that they have the best chances to get admitted into top universities, Ishiguro intertwines the themes of hope and love while “The Sun” (Klara capitalizes it) adds kindness and warmth to the human and non-human interactions.

While Klara is the science fiction version of advanced artificial intelligence, we can only hope that human loneliness will lessen in the future and that we will continue to reach out to each other, while robots will keep doing easy mechanical tasks, such as bringing drinks to the table without getting impatient when delivering them.

For now, there is hope in the future of mankind, as long as we keep connecting and accepting that “there are all kinds of ways to lead a successful life,” as Paul tells Rick’s mother, who had chosen not to “lift” her son.

The sun and its kind rays of sunshine can uplift us all. I toast to that and to watching every sunset with the same wonder as Klara while climbing and descending stairs with true hope that everything we do will in the end be worth it.

Published by

CEO/Broker of Dynamic Real Estate, Inc., business owner featured in the Forbes magazine for my outstanding service to my clients. Mom, wife, a published author, Medium writer, poet, marathon runner, rapper, and tennis player.

Carmichael, CA
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More from Carmen Micsa

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?

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

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?

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

**Technological Advancements and Future Directions** The field of AI-driven robotic pets is evolving rapidly, with ongoing advancements aimed at enhancing their capabilities and user experience.

**Technological Advancements and Future Directions** The field of AI-driven robotic pets is evolving rapidly, with ongoing advancements aimed at enhancing their capabilities and user experience.

**Technological Advancements and Future Directions** The field of AI-driven robotic pets is evolving rapidly, with ongoing advancements aimed at enhancing their capabilities and user experience.

Developers are working to improve language support for non-English speakers, integrate health monitoring features, and enable more sophisticated emotional interactions .

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

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

Innovations such as facial recognition, real-time navigation, and environment analysis are being incorporated to make robotic pets more interactive and responsive .

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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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Content: Having a pet helps boost mental health, say 89% of owners in poll

In August last year, senior legal counsel Adeline Chung and her husband welcomed a little bundle of joy into their lives - an energetic Irish corgi named Whiskey.

Since then, the dog has changed not only the couple's lives, but those of Ms Chung's parents as well. "He's brought unbelievable life and joy to the family. My parents are young again," said the 37-year-old, adding that her dog has also added structure to her life.

Ms Chung is not the only one with such sentiments. In a survey done here by multinational animal health firm Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health Singapore, 89 per cent of respondents said their pets had a positive impact on their mental well-being during the pandemic. The survey was carried out among 1,018 cat and dog owners here from Oct 8 to Nov 27 this year. Those surveyed were broadly representative of the population here.

Dr Armin Wiesler, Boehringer Ingelheim's regional managing director and head of animal health for South-east Asia and South Korea, said the pandemic made it more evident that pets play an important part in supporting humans physically, mentally and emotionally.

Dr Lim Boon Leng, a psychiatrist from Gleneagles Hospital, told The Straits Times that while the pandemic has negatively impacted the mental health of many in myriad ways, there are several ways pets can improve mental health. For instance, they can alleviate loneliness, bring meaning to one's life, or shift the focus away from suffering. Interacting with pets can also reduce stress hormones and enhance oxytocin, a feel-good hormone.

Dr Lim added: "Pets are much easier to establish a relationship with compared to a human, where there may be fears of judgment and rejection."

Revenue director Cheng Limin, 37, agreed. The owner of a mini dachshund - Chorizo - said: "Humans are great, but they ask you a lot of questions you're not ready to answer. A pet really gives you that unconditional support."

Dr Kenneth Tong, head veterinarian and founder of Animal and Avian Veterinary Clinic, said pets can have a positive impact on their owners' mental and physical health. But he emphasised that getting a pet should not be a "quick fix". Those who want a pet should read up about the animal first, and consider how much time and space they have to care for it, he said, adding that potential pet owners should think of the long term.

He added: "The pandemic will be short-lived... The animal is for life."

A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on December 14, 2021, with the headline 'Having a pet helps boost mental health, say 89% of owners in poll'. Subscribe

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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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How is Oppo marketing its Robotic dog Qric?

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

How is Oppo marketing its Robotic dog Qric?

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

How is Oppo marketing its Robotic dog Qric?

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

The market for these devices is expanding, driven by the growing prevalence of loneliness among older adults and the need for innovative solutions in elder care .

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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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Content: Breaking News
More () »

Falls Church-based organization donating robotic pets to Ukrainian refugees in Poland

Capital Caring Health is working with the Polish government to bring emotional support to children who lost pets amid the crisis in Ukraine.

FALLS CHURCH, Va. — A Virginia nonprofit is partnering with the Polish government to help Ukrainian children who fled their homes.

Capital Caring Health, which is headquartered in Falls Church, will provide robotic cats and dogs as companion pets to refugee children who've had to leave their own pets behind because of the war.

The organization provides hospice, palliative and elder care services to around 120,000 patients in Maryland, Virginia and D.C.

CCH said in a statement that the effort has been approved by Polish officials and the robotics pets will be flown to Poland for distribution.

The statement says that clinical studies indicate that robotic pets can be a source of comfort for children between the ages of 3 to 10.

Credit: Capital Caring Health
Steve Cone, chief of philanthropy for Capital Caring Health, holds two robotic pets.

RELATED: Locals rent Airbnbs for people fleeing Ukraine as company pledges free housing for refugees

Tom Koutsoumpas, CEO of CCH, said in a statement that the organization provides robotic pets to veterans with dementia in the DMV area, which has brought about "remarkable changes in behavior."

"Among the benefits are reduction in agitation, prevention of depression, and often a reduction in medications being administered,” Koutsoumpas said.

The community can support CCH's efforts to support robotic pets for Ukrainian children effort by making a donation online. (Select the "Patient Pet Services and Robotic Companion Pets" option in the specific program dropdown menu.)

A $300 donation provides one robotic pet for both a child refugee and a veteran with dementia.

"The robotic pets are quite remarkable and interactively react to human touch, movement, and voice—like real pets," Steve Cone, chief of philanthropy for CCH said in a statement. "As we like to say no need to feed or walk or clean up after them—just enjoy their LOVE."

WATCH NEXT: 'They come to it with a curious mind' | Northern Virginia classroom examines current events in Ukraine with students

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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?

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?

As AI technology continues to advance, future robotic pets may possess enhanced emotional intelligence, allowing for deeper and more personalized interactions.

As AI technology continues to advance, future robotic pets may possess enhanced emotional intelligence, allowing for deeper and more personalized interactions.

As AI technology continues to advance, future robotic pets may possess enhanced emotional intelligence, allowing for deeper and more personalized interactions.

However, the ongoing development and adoption of these technologies must be guided by ethical frameworks that prioritize the emotional and psychological well-being of users and ensure that robotic companions complement, rather than replace, meaningful human-animal and human-human relationships .

Title:

Content: Xiaomi’s CyberDog looks remarkably like Boston Dynamics’ Spot

Xiaomi has unleashed a robot mutt called CyberDog.

Looking remarkably like Boston Dynamics’ Spot robot but selling for a fraction of the price, CyberDog is Xiaomi’s first foray into quadruped robotics.

Keen to see what others can do with CyberDog, the Chinese tech company is encouraging robot enthusiasts to get creative with the high-tech contraption and push it to its limits.

Developers will certainly have plenty to play with. Powered by Nvidia’s Jetson Xavier A.I. platform, CyberDog incorporates Xiaomi’s in-house-developed servo motors that give it a wide range of motion and a top speed of 3.2 meters per second. It can even perform complex moves such as backflips.

The robot pooch also includes a vision sensor system for navigation and autonomous object tracking. “This means that CyberDog can analyze its surroundings in real-time, create navigational maps, plot its destination, and avoid obstacles,” Xiaomi says.

Other features include three Type-C ports and 1 HDMI port to connect tools such as “a searchlight, panoramic camera, motion camera, lidar, or more.”

CyberDog can become your robot pet, too (don’t tell Rover, he’ll be devastated), with built-in smarts enabling it to respond to voice commands, though you can also control it via a smartphone app if you’d rather tap than speak.

The Beijing-based company said that for now, it’s releasing 1,000 units of CyberDog to “Xiaomi fans, engineers, and robotic enthusiasts” in the hope that together they’ll be able to discover the full potential of CyberDog.

Those lucky enough to host the robot in their home or workshop will have to fork out 9,999 Chinese yuan (about $1,540) for the privilege, though that’s significantly cheaper than the $74,500 Boston Dynamics is charging for Spot. Of course, we’ll need to see CyberDog in action to properly compare the robots’ abilities and determine if that hefty price difference is justified.

Boston Dynamics began selling its similar-looking Spot quadruped in 2020 as a robot assistant capable of performing a range of tasks across different industries. Some companies have already tested the robot, including Ford, which used it to map one of its facilities, and Norwegian oil producer Aker BP, which deployed it for tasks such as inspection work and data gathering.

To smooth the way for what will hopefully be a productive collaboration campaign, Xiaomi has set up an open-source community to inspire creativity and exchange ideas. We can’t wait to see what it comes up with.

Editors' Recommendations

Title:

Content: CES 2024: A Showcase of Innovation in AI, Urban Mobility, and Pet Technology

By: Rizwan Shah
CES 2024: A Showcase of Innovation in AI, Urban Mobility, and Pet Technology

The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2024 in Las Vegas was a hotbed of innovative technologies, augmenting the realms of artificial intelligence, urban mobility, and pet technology. Among the standout showcases were the AI companion robot, Wehead, the electric vertical take-off and landing vehicle by Supernal, and ingenious pet technologies like Pawport and Flappie.

Wehead: A Leap in AI Companionship

Unveiled by a U.S. startup, Wehead is an AI companion robot that promises human-like conversations. Powered by generative artificial intelligence and running on ChatGPT, Wehead not only engages in real-time conversations but also remembers past interactions, providing a supportive and nonjudgmental presence to its users. The robot, which is available for adoption on a subscription basis, marks a significant advance in AI-powered companionship.

Supernal’s eVTOL: An Answer to Urban Traffic

Another highlight from the CES was Supernal’s eVTOL, a product of the Hyundai Group subsidiary. This electric vertical take-off and landing vehicle is being developed as a solution for urban traffic congestion. It can carry a pilot and four passengers and aims to provide a more cost-effective and quicker alternative to car travel in cities. Despite the prospect of launching the service in 2024, Jaiwon Shin from Supernal acknowledged the significant regulatory and technological challenges ahead.

Innovations in Pet Technology

In the realm of pet technology, CES showcased some unique innovations. Martin Diamond’s Pawport, a hermetically sealed pet door, allows pets to enter and leave the house while keeping out wildlife. It is set to be available from May. Swiss twins Oliver and Denis Widler introduced Flappie, a smart pet door equipped with AI cameras. It only allows entry to pets with a microchip and prevents them from bringing unwanted ‘gifts’ into the house. Priced at 299 Swiss francs, Flappie is another testament to the growing integration of AI technology into everyday life.

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Forget Alexa, Astro is the next step in Amazon's infiltration of your home

Amazon capped off its late-year event with a surprise announcement: Astro, a new robot that’s essentially a tablet on wheels with enough cameras to host a video chat and map your house. It’s the next big venture for Amazon to get into your house, serve your needs, and make its devices essential to your daily life.

Astro is a ‘one more thing’ we would expect from more experienced consumer tech companies – see the LG Rolling Bot in 2016 and the Samsung Ballie in 2020. While both were pitched to fill similar roles of patrolling homes, notifying users of atypical events, and taking notes, neither of the latter made it much farther than the concept stage.

The Astro bot, which Amazon seemingly started developing in 2018 per The Washington Post, appears more capable than the others based on its listed features: it will follow you around as a mobile video chat platform, livestream footage to your mobile app from afar, patrol the home and investigate disturbances, and likely serve as a mobile Alexa station. We’ll see how the actual units perform when they start heading to testers toward the end of 2021 (though a Vice report from product developers isn't promising), and further understand whether there’s a lot to gain from a vacuum-sized ‘bot wheeling around underfoot to answer queries and wander your home.

Here’s the teaser video showing what we can expect an Astro to do:

For Amazon, on the other hand, Astro serves a clear purpose: entrench its services even deeper in the home. There wasn’t a new Echo speaker launched during Amazon’s event, and only a new wall-mounted Amazon Echo Show 15 product, which tells us the company sees Astro as the way to service consumers now that Echoes have saturated the market.

The big service linked to Astro is the existing Ring Protect Pro, without which the ‘bot can’t perform its autonomous patrols and ‘intelligent investigation’ of suspicious activity, nor can it save videos to Ring cloud storage for up to 60 days. Another service, Alexa Guard, uses Astro to detect sounds of smoke, carbon monoxide alarms, or glass breaking and warn users.

If you’re not signed up for either (purchase of an Astro comes with six months of Ring Protect Pro subscription), you can still manually control the robot through the mobile app and livestream footage from the included cameras (including a few hidden in an extendable mast that rises from its cylindrical ‘neck’). But clearly, for the $999 ‘Day 1 edition’ test group price ($1,499 normally, and no plans to test or sell outside the 50 US states), you’re probably going to want the full range of functionality.

And for that, you’ll want to sign up for all the services, tying your daily workflow even closer with Amazon’s products and services in ways that Echo speakers haven’t been able to do. Which reflects what Amazon’s priorities are for Astro, as Dr. Robin Gaster, President of data analytics firm Incumetrics and author of Behemoth, Amazon Rising: Power and Seduction in the Age of Amazon, told TechRadar over email.

“Obviously, Astro is potentially the end data collection mechanism, and seems to fit with the Echo for information and entertainment, the Ring for security, and the Halo for health and wellness,” Gaster said. “All aimed at making Amazon indispensable around the home.”

“Becoming the key assistant around the home is obviously a top long term strategic priority for Amazon – far more than it is for Google, its main competitor,” Gaster said.  “Astro seems like a highly preliminary toe in the water for a physical assistant – miles from being useful now, but perhaps a first step on the path to a robot butler, which could in the end be integrated with the Echo/Ring/Halo. Note that in that case, the Astro would need to gather no data at all: Amazon would already have all it needs.”

What can Astro do that Echoes can’t?

While Amazon has its work cut out for it justifying such high prices, there are things the Astro can do that the Echo or Echo Show can’t. But they are all situational and, for now, theoretical, as the product doesn’t have much competition in terms of functional consumer-facing assistant robots.

First, the video chats: yes, an Echo Show can do it, but it can’t follow you around the house. How much easier is it to command Astro to head over to someone else in another room during a voice call instead of carrying the device there yourself? Or, if the Astro can follow such subtle commands, point at a subject and have the robot point its cameras at it (say, to show home damage to a technician or have someone walk you through a recipe)?

And while a network of Echos could also handle assistant duties, Astro can trail its owner to set up reminders and deliver messages, calls, and other communications – which could be more convenient coming from a screen-equipped robot nearby rather than talking through verbal commands or walking over to an Echo Show. Astro even has some detachable add-ons that make use of its rear cargo area to carry drinks or, and I quote from its Amazon listing, ‘a Furbo Dog Camera that tosses treats to your pet.’

But the big pitch is for security: with that Ring Protect Pro subscription, you can set up Astro to use its cameras and microphones to map your home and patrol for disturbances or strangers. It certainly seems like it could comfort folks away from home, especially with Astro’s live camera feed to check on pets. You can also save footage for up to 60 days should you worry your living space will be subject to heists.

And there’s another subscription service not yet on the market that Amazon revealed at its recent event: Alexa Together, which Astro is linked to in some capacity. While details are vague, this service is described to help users remotely care for aging loved ones, and it's possible Astro could be a sort of go-between for younger helpers to set up reminders and video chat with folks in their care.

Amazon deeper in your home: should you be worried?

Amazon is pitching Astro as an assistant that could make everyone’s life just a bit easier – they just have to give it access to their home and listen in on everything. To be clear, Amazon has included a physical button on the ‘bot that turns off all microphones, cameras, and motion sensors, so you can at least put the blinders on when you need privacy. Since you need cameras and motion sensors for Astro to move around at all, though, it’s kind of an all-or-nothing proposition if you want the robot performing most of its duties.

Astro runs into the same privacy concerns as the Echo and other always-listening/watching products, but with far more visual and motion sensors: the new product follows you around and maps your home to effectively navigate and spot disturbances, as well as identify inhabitants with facial recognition. That’s a lot of very personal data, which might make privacy-minded consumers squeamish, so we reached out to Amazon to clear up which data is going where.

The facial recognition (called ‘Visual ID’) data is securely stored on the device, an Amazon spokesperson told TechRadar – it isn’t stored in the cloud, but mapping data is. When Astro explores your home, it sends mapping information derived from its navigation sensors to the cloud, where Amazon processes it and related information to create and store your Map. This allows you to view a rendering of your Map in the Astro app, where you can edit room names manually as well as set boundaries where Astro cannot enter (the Map data can be deleted at any time). Data that is sent to the cloud is encrypted in transit and securely stored on Amazon’s servers.

There are other topical concerns with data collected by Amazon cameras, especially since the company has extended partnerships with more police and fire departments in 2021, per The Verge, which has led Amazon to hand over recordings and information captured by its Ring video doorbell devices. Crucially, though, these cameras don’t point in the home, and are subject to subpoenas. As the Amazon spokesperson told Techradar: “Requests for Assistance posts from public safety agencies do not support sharing of videos from indoor cameras, including Astro.”

And then there’s the big worry: that Amazon will do what Amazon has done with user data on its platforms and sell data collected by Astro. To be clear, there is no record of Amazon doing so with audio data recorded by Echo speakers, as a point of comparison. When TechRadar asked Amazon whether it would use Astro-collected customer behavior (house heatmaps, daily schedules, overheard conversations) for any other purpose, like refining non-Astro services or sending to partners or advertising, an Amazon spokesperson replied curtly: “For us to consider that change, it would have to offer outsized benefits to customers and provide the right customer controls.”

Whether or not it passes along data to any party outside Amazon, the Astro will certainly collect more than any of the company’s products has before – something that may not sit well with privacy advocates and security experts, but which the public may not care enough about.

“Astro may also be a litmus test – an opportunity to see where exactly concerns about privacy become operational,” Gaster told TechRadar. “So far, the success of the Echo/Ring/ suggests that privacy concerns aren't much of a barrier for Amazon's home ambitions at all.”

David J Lumb is Mobile Editor, US for TechRadar, covering phones, tablets, and wearables. He still thinks the iPhone 4 is the best-looking smartphone ever made.

**Conclusion** AI robotic pets represent a promising and rapidly growing trend in senior wellness, offering practical, emotional, and therapeutic benefits for elderly and lonely individuals.

**Conclusion** AI robotic pets represent a promising and rapidly growing trend in senior wellness, offering practical, emotional, and therapeutic benefits for elderly and lonely individuals.

**Conclusion** AI robotic pets represent a promising and rapidly growing trend in senior wellness, offering practical, emotional, and therapeutic benefits for elderly and lonely individuals.

Products like Joy for All Companion Pets, ElliQ, and Wehead demonstrate the diverse functionalities and positive impact of these devices in both therapeutic and social settings.

Products like Joy for All Companion Pets, ElliQ, and Wehead demonstrate the diverse functionalities and positive impact of these devices in both therapeutic and social settings.

Products like Joy for All Companion Pets, ElliQ, and Wehead demonstrate the diverse functionalities and positive impact of these devices in both therapeutic and social settings.

While public attitudes are increasingly favorable, especially among those who benefit most, ethical considerations about the replacement of real animals and the importance of human interaction remain central to the conversation.

While public attitudes are increasingly favorable, especially among those who benefit most, ethical considerations about the replacement of real animals and the importance of human interaction remain central to the conversation.

While public attitudes are increasingly favorable, especially among those who benefit most, ethical considerations about the replacement of real animals and the importance of human interaction remain central to the conversation.

The future of robotic pet companions lies in enhancing their capabilities while ensuring they serve as supportive tools that enrich, rather than diminish, the quality of life and social connectedness for seniors [b7

For whom would robotic animal dolls make a big difference?

those with Alzheimer's or dementia, struggling with isolation

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

many features to enhance owner interaction

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

For whom would robotic animal dolls make a big difference?

those with Alzheimer's or dementia, struggling with isolation

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

many features to enhance owner interaction

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

For whom would robotic animal dolls make a big difference?

those with Alzheimer's or dementia, struggling with isolation

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

many features to enhance owner interaction

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

For whom would robotic animal dolls make a big difference?

those with Alzheimer's or dementia, struggling with isolation

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

many features to enhance owner interaction

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