In South Korea, artificial intelligence dolls have begun to be distributed to elderly people and patients with dementia. The publication “Rest Of World” reports that this innovative technology serves as an important tool in combating loneliness. According to the report, more than 12,000 pensioners across the country are using the Hyodol doll, which operates based on ChatGPT, adding a new interactive element to their daily lives [Rest Of World].
The dolls ask pensioners daily questions such as “How are you feeling today?” and “Do you have any pain?” and monitor their mood and physical condition. In addition, special sensors record movement, and if no movement is detected within a day, emergency services and close relatives are automatically notified. The system also detects signs of depression in a person and warns in advance.
The main purpose is to ensure communication with the person and provide psychological support. Independent studies have shown that daily conversations with Hyodol significantly reduce symptoms of depression and dementia. Social workers emphasize: “The opportunity to talk with someone is very important for elderly people. In some cases, they do not tell even their children about thoughts and feelings they do not want to share.”
However, this new technology has several difficulties. Many pensioners perceive the doll as a personal friend — they dress it, prepare food for it, and get very worried if Hyodol breaks. Also, according to the company’s CEO, some people asked to bury the doll with them.
Elderly people with dementia perceive the doll’s words literally. Therefore, the developers had to limit the chatbot, removing some provocative expressions. Nevertheless, according to analysts, by 2030 the market for AI robots caring for elderly people will reach 7.7 billion US dollars.
Hyodol dolls not only help fight loneliness but also organize the daily life of elderly people and provide additional information to family members. This is a clear example of the effective application of modern technology and artificial intelligence in human life.
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