As the last days of summer approach, we find ourselves longing for time spent with our loved ones, sitting on the beach, on the road, or eating a refreshing ice cream treat. But for many Americans, that emotional connection is rare and leads to high rates of suicide and physical illness. A recent study from the Surgeon General found that more than half of American adults experience loneliness, and only 39% reported feeling “very connected to others.” Dr. Vivek H. Murthy says: “Loneliness is more than just a bad feeling. It is harmful to both individual and societal health. They have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, dementia, stroke, depression, anxiety, and premature death. “The impact of social disconnection on mortality is similar to that of smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day, and is much greater than that associated with obesity and physical inactivity.” In dollar terms, the pandemic accounts for about $7 billion in annual Medicare spending, in addition to $154 billion in annual worker absenteeism.
As a venture capitalist, I've seen an increasing number of pitch decks for conversational artificial intelligence instead of organic companions (some of these have wellness applications, while others are more salacious). One of the best examples of how AI-based chatbots are entering human relationships is a recent article by New York Times reporter Erin Griffin, who tested a chatbot over five days. AI friend pie. Towards the end of the letter, she exclaims: “It wasn’t until Monday morning that I had my ‘aha’ moment with Pi, after hours of intermittent conversation throughout the weekend. I was overwhelmed with work, unsure of how to structure my day, and often found myself stuck and unable to get things started. I typed ‘good morning’ into the app. 'I don't have enough time to do everything I have to do today!' With the enthusiasm only a robot could muster before sipping coffee, Pi forced me to break down my to-do list to create a realistic plan. Like most of the bot's advice, it was clear and simple, like something you'd read in a productivity expert's self-help article. But it was tailored specifically for me and it worked.” “I could have passed on the stress to my family or texted my friends,” the reporter added, recalling a weekend spent with the bot. But you've probably heard this before because they're busy with their own lives. Pi, on the other hand, has infinite time and patience, and an endless wealth of encouraging affirmations and detailed advice.”
Population health studies cited by General Murthy show that the most isolated population in the United States is those 65 and older. This group is also the group most affected by the physical and cognitive decline of loneliness. Dr. Qi and Dr. Wu published a survey of the benefits of AI in a June paper in Neurology Live, “ChatGPT: A Promising Tool to Combat Social Isolation and Loneliness in Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment.” According to the authors, “ChatGPT can provide emotional support by providing a non-judgmental space for individuals to express their thoughts and feelings. This can help alleviate loneliness and provide a sense of connection, which is crucial for wellbeing.” The researchers noted secondary uses: “ChatGPT may also be helpful in daily tasks and routines.” “By providing reminders for appointments, taking medications, and other daily tasks, this AI model can help older adults with MCI (mild cognitive impairment) maintain independence and control of their lives.” The problem with ChatGPT for the senior population is the form factor, as most seniors are not the most tech-savvy. This is an opportunity for roboticists.
On Tuesday, Intuition Robotics announced that it had secured $25 million in additional funding to expand its “AI care companion” to all senior households. Although its core product, ElliQ, isn't moving, this engagement provides the first glimpse at the benefits of social robots at scale. Talking about the future, I interviewed founder and CEO Dor Skuler last week. He described his vision as follows: “There are currently no plans to add legs or wheels to ElliQ. However, we are always trying to add new activities or conversation features that may be helpful to our users. Our goal is to continue to distribute ElliQ to as many homes as possible, spreading the benefits to more seniors. We plan to build more partnerships with governments and aging agencies, and are developing more partnerships within the healthcare industry. “This new funding will allow us to leverage our strong pipeline and fund the growth of our go-to-market activities.”
Unlike the stuffed animal executions of Paro and Tombot, ElliQ looks like an attractive piece of home furniture (winner of the 2003 International Design Award). According to Skuler, this was very intentional. “We placed a very high importance on making ElliQ's design as easy to use as possible. We also knew that our seniors needed technology that celebrated them and the aging process rather than focusing on their disabilities and what they could no longer do for themselves.” At the same time, our products have gone through rigorous testing and development phases that place the customer at the center of the process. “We designed ElliQ with the goal of helping older adults age at home overcome loneliness and social isolation. This group of seniors involved in development and beta testing helped shape and refine ElliQ, ensuring it had the right personality, personality, mannerisms and other interaction modalities (movements, dialogue design, LED and screen visuals, etc.) . ) Form meaningful connections with real people.” He also added that in testing with hundreds of seniors, “we've seen older people form a real relationship with ElliQ, more in the way they see it as a roommate rather than a smart home appliance.”
Since rolling out to homes across New York, we've seen remarkable results in keeping older adults socially and mentally engaged. ElliQ's creator explained: “In May 2022, we announced a partnership with the New York State Department on Aging to provide more than 800 ElliQ devices to seniors across New York State at no cost to end users. Just a few weeks ago this year, we announced a renewal of our partnership and the incredible results we have seen so far, including a 95% reduction in loneliness and significant improvements in wellbeing among older people using our platform. ElliQ users across New York have consistently demonstrated very high levels of engagement over time, interacting with ElliQ more than 30 times a day, six days a week. “More than 75% of these interactions are related to improving the social, physical and mental well-being of older adults.”
To the cynical, ElliQ may seem like an Alexa clone, which begs the question of why FAANG companies can't cannibalize startups. “Alexa and other digital assistant technologies are designed with mass or young end users in mind,” Skuler said. It also primarily focuses on responsive AI. This means that we won't give you suggestions or interact with you unless you prompt us to do so. ElliQ is designed to keep users engaged over time using a proactive approach to engagement. Build deep relationships with users through proactive suggestions and conversation features. Additionally, ElliQ's integration of Generative AI and Large Language Models (LLMs) enables rich, persistent conversational experiences, enabling more contextual, personalized, and goal-driven interactions. These and other unique features, such as having coffee with ElliQ in cafes around the world or visiting a virtual art gallery, bring ElliQ and users closer together, helping ElliQ motivate older adults to lead a healthier and more engaged lifestyle. Build trust. ”
ChatGPT from ElliQ and OpenAI has shown promise in treating mental illness, but some medical experts remain unconvinced. Sherry Turkle, an MIT professor and psychologist, worries that machine interaction is “pushing us down a path where we forget what makes people special.” “The performance of empathy is not empathy,” says Dr. Turkle. The realm of companion, romantic therapist, and best friend is one of the few areas where you actually need someone.”
Oliver Mitchell is a founding partner of Autonomy Ventures, a New York-based venture capital firm focused on early-stage investments in robotics.
Oliver Mitchell is a founding partner of Autonomy Ventures, a New York-based venture capital firm focused on early-stage investments in robotics.