Are AI Dolls the Answer to Loneliness?

Embracing Companionships with AI

One of the most fascinating applications of AI isn’t about crunching data or powering robots to perform physical tasks; it’s about providing companionship. As AI evolves, it brings us closer, not just through efficient communication but by fulfilling our need for connection and emotional support.

With AI chatbots like ChatGPT, people have been able to talk, seek emotional support, and alleviate loneliness. In fact, companies now are moving towards making their chatbots more aligned with the above causes. Take Inflection AI for instance that developed Pi, its “empathetic” competitor to ChatGPT which has its own personality. It’s like talking to a friend where you can be raw-self and discuss dreams, aspirations, relationship advice.

Imagine having a bad day and there’s this AI, ready to listen, empathize, and even offer words of encouragement. It’s not a replacement for human interaction, but it’s an additional support that’s available anytime, anywhere.

The Next Frontier is Elderly Care

Let’s pause for a moment and think - whom does this technology truly serve? It's easy to picture the youth enchanted by the novelty of AI girlfriends.

The reach and impact extend to the elderly, who stand to benefit immensely from AI-powered robots capable of conversation and caregiving. This isn’t a futuristic dream; it’s a reality that’s been unfolding over the last few years.

But this has all been relevant for a few years only. Ever heard about doll therapy for curing dementia and loneliness?

Dolls Beyond Playtime: A Nostalgic Therapy

Before we delve deeper into AI’s ventures into elderly care, let’s step back and explore a practice rooted in deep human instincts - doll therapy.

Dolls have long been considered not just as playthings but also as therapeutic devices, especially in the care of lonely individuals with dementia patients. In this therapy, the patients interact with lifelike dolls where they cuddle, dress, talk to, or simply hold the dolls.

Building on the human instinct of nurturing and bliss in caregiving, it rekindles memories of parenthood or caregiving roles from their past, providing comfort, alleviating distress, and enhancing social interaction among them.

This is not just a theoretical concept but has been practically applied. A study was done to evaluate the effectiveness of doll therapy in reducing behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD). The review, involving 295 participants, found that doll therapy reduced challenging and aggressive behaviors, and improved communication skills and emotional states among the participants.

But how does this age-old therapy weave into the narrative of AI’s evolution in caregiving?

The Digital Age of Caregiving with a Human Touch

Blending the modern technology into traditional methods to make the therapy more effective, a Korean company developed an AI doll named Hyodol, in 2018, to cater to the increasing aging population in South Korea.

The company wanted to infuse warmth into the living spaces of the elderly and provide comprehensive life log data for caregivers.

The 2020 pandemic heightened the isolation experienced by older people due to social distancing measures and disruptions to community services, that’s when the government accelerated the deployment of these dolls. Hyodol was more than a response to an immediate need - it was a step toward redefining care for the elderly.

A Closer Look into the AI Doll 👀

Hyodol is neither just a beautiful human-looking doll nor like any other tech gadget. Priced at $1800, Hyodol is powered by LLM so that it can communicate with its user, much like ChatGPT in a doll. The LLM is fed by a mobile communication module, processors, various sensors, and speakers which make the doll much beyond a mere chatbot:

• Touch Interactions and Emergency Alerts: Sends text messages and phone calls if no movement is detected or in emergencies when its hand is pressed​​​.

• Health Reminders: A talking alarm function, reminding users to take their medication at preset times.

• Entertainment: Includes nine types of entertainment programs, ranging from quizzes and stories to music. It can play over 3,000 songs across various genres​​​.

• Personalized Interaction: Provides emotional support and a sense of companionship. It engages in conversation when touched.

• Advanced Care Robot: Monitores their movements and provides personalized responses to their emotional states.

• AIoT Technology: Integrates AI with IoT to collect and use real-time life log data from elderly individuals for improved care services​.

• Community Services: Connects with local communities for services like health coaching and emergency response.

Around 7,000 dolls have been deployed to seniors living alone and it’s also being used with dementia patients at a university hospital in Gangwon province.

Is it Really This Good?

While you may view Hyodol as simplistic or juvenile, studies suggest a profound impact on users’ lives. A study involving participants with an average age of 82 who had used Hyodol for around 18 months, reported that users were “moved and strengthened” by words of encouragement from Hyodol. The doll helped improve their daily activity and depression levels and users felt discomfort when Hyodol failed to understand their words.

Another study with over 9,000 users showed a reduction in depression levels from 5.73 to 3.14 and an improvement in medicine intake.

Next Step in Human-Technology Connection

This is a classic case of AI being used for nursing, caregiving, and therapy. With the looks of it and its use, Hyodol might feel a little childish, but its positive impact on mental health cannot be understated. The journey from traditional dolls to AI ones reflects the deepened understanding of AI in human emotional needs.

This is just the beginning of a profound transformation in elderly care. The aspiration is to deploy full-sized, human-like robots, equipped with advanced AI to engage in more sophisticated caregiving and nursing tasks. These envisioned AI-powered robots promise not just companionship but a more comprehensive range of care services, mimicking human touch, empathy, and even complex emotional understanding.

But as we stand on the brink of this technological leap, it prompts a profound question: Are we ready to embrace these AI caregivers as an integral part of our social and healthcare systems, and how will they redefine the essence of human care and empathy? Let me know in the comments!

That’s all for today 👋

See you next week with another interesting AI deep dive, where we'll explore fascinating aspects of the latest AI breakthroughs in depth. Can’t wait to share more insightful discussions and discoveries in the world of AI with you.

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