For the past few weeks, the AI-powered ElliQ companion robot has perched on the end of my desk. Designed by Intuition Robotics for seniors living alone, this proactive animatronic chats to me throughout the day, checking how I’m feeling, suggesting “fun” activities, and prodding me to be more active and sociable. While it can be annoying, I’ve grown attached to ElliQ despite myself, and I can see the positive potential.
Loneliness is an epidemic. According to the US Census Bureau, around 16 million elders (over 65) live alone in the country, and up to a third report feelings of loneliness. Multiple studies have shown that social isolation harms mental and physical health, increasing blood pressure, depression, weight gain, alcohol and drug use, and decreasing physical activity, cognition, heart health, and sleep. Humans are inherently social creatures.
ElliQ is designed to alleviate these feelings and encourage healthy behavior in elderly folks living alone. The hope is that it can improve their quality of life and enable people to stay in their own homes longer instead of moving to an assisted living facility. While you may feel this cutesy AI bot is downright dystopian, you’ve got to ask yourself, what’s the alternative? We know we should all check in with our elderly relatives and friends more often, but life is busy, and some folks are alone for long stretches.
Cute and Practical
Photograph: Simon Hill
ElliQ sits on a pedestal with a metallic body and a head that swivels, tilts, and lights up when it speaks. There is a small smart display and speaker on the right with a physical button to press to wake ElliQ or silence it. The button also spins for volume control. You can wake ElliQ by saying its name, chosen because it’s unlikely to be said accidentally. When ElliQ asks something or seeks confirmation, you can respond verbally or use the touchscreen.
The setup was a breeze. ElliQ arrived in simple packaging with instructions in an easy-to-read, large font. All you have to do is plug it in and connect to Wi-Fi. The first time we spoke, ElliQ asked me a few questions. Potential answers popped up on the touchscreen. It ran through questions I might ask, and I was prompted to read a few lines so ElliQ could recognize my voice.
ElliQ speaks in a slightly stilted, completely inoffensive female voice with tiny pauses before my name (it uses my name in almost every interaction). The way it is animated is undeniably cute. In one of our first conversations, ElliQ tells me it is modeled on the Pixar lamp. The rim around its head can light up, and there are concentric circles in the center of its face; combined with the movement, it genuinely appears to have some personality and charm.
The touchscreen display and physical button provide a practical edge. If you have difficulty with the voice controls or it misunderstands, you can tap the option you want. I also use the physical sleep button to shut it down immediately when it pipes up during meetings or when I’m otherwise engaged. All in all, it’s a smart design.
Encouraging Positive Behavior
Photograph: Simon Hill
Like the voice assistants and smart displays you are used to, ElliQ can answer basic queries, give you a weather report, remind you about an appointment, or take music requests. But ElliQ is also proactive, starting conversations throughout the day and engaging you in activities. Intuition Robotics cofounder and CEO Dor Skuler says creating this sense of autonomy is crucial to building engagement and getting people to think of ElliQ as a character in their lives.
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