ElliQ: The AI Combating Loneliness and Transforming Elderly Care

This article has been translated using artificial intelligence

Embodied AI is redefining our relationship with technology, enabling machines to interact with the world in more intuitive and natural ways. At the Future Trends Forum, a group of 40 international experts examined the impact of this technology across key sectors such as healthcare, industry, and mobility. Among them, Dor Skuler, founder and CEO of Intuition Robotics, presented his innovative perspective on how proactive social AI can enhance the quality of life for older adults.

“Loneliness is associated with an increased risk of heart disease, dementia (by 50%), stroke, depression, anxiety, and premature death. Its impact on health is comparable to smoking 15 cigarettes a day.” – Dor Skuler

His robot ElliQ, designed to combat loneliness and promote well-being, demonstrates that the key to success in Embodied AI lies not only in advanced technology, but in building meaningful human-machine relationships. How does this AI earn trust, motivate people, and improve health outcomes? Skuler offers a compelling vision of the future of human-robot interaction.

📺 Watch Dor Skuler’s full talk here:

Embodied AI as a Companion in Aging: A Holistic Approach to Autonomy and Quality of Life

Artificial intelligence is no longer just a set of invisible algorithms in the cloud. Its evolution into Embodied AI is transforming how we interact with technology—bringing it closer to our everyday lives in more human and intuitive ways. Dor Skuler is leading this shift with a clear purpose: to help older adults remain independent, active, and healthy in their own homes through the integration of proactive social robots.

His creation, ElliQ, is much more than a voice assistant—it is a social AI companion specifically designed to reduce loneliness and enhance well-being among the elderly. But what sets ElliQ apart from other AI systems? According to Skuler, the difference lies in four core principles: being multimodal, proactive, goal-oriented, and empathetic.

“The relationship between humans and AI is the core of success. It’s not just about GPTs or prompts; the secret is building a real bond between the user and the technology.” — Dor Skuler

A Proactive AI That Doesn’t Wait for Commands

One of ElliQ’s most innovative features is its proactivity. Unlike conventional virtual assistants that require user activation, ElliQ initiates interaction naturally. “Approximately 50% of the interactions are initiated by the robot itself,” Skuler explains. This brings unique design challenges: When should AI step in? What tone should it use? How much is too much when it comes to interrupting someone’s routine?

To address these questions, Intuition Robotics developed a five-level interaction model, ranging from subtle glances to full conversations. This allows ElliQ to gradually attract the user’s attention and then initiate more meaningful exchanges—creating a smoother and more natural human-robot relationship.

More Than Companionship: A Holistic Approach to Well-Being

Tackling loneliness is only the first step. ElliQ also supports key dimensions of well-being such as cognitive training, stress reduction, sleep, nutrition, and hydration. Skuler stresses the importance of this comprehensive approach, as loneliness cannot be solved with a single action or feature.

In addition, ElliQ encourages creativity and self-expression by allowing users to draw, write poetry, and share life stories—strengthening connections with family and loved ones. These activities contribute to improved mental health and positively influence public health outcomes.

Source: https://elliq.com/

Impact on Loneliness: Evidence from the Field

Studies conducted by Intuition Robotics, in collaboration with institutions such as Cornell University and Duke University, show a clear emotional and psychological benefit for ElliQ users:

• 90% reduction in self-perceived loneliness: Participants reported feeling significantly less isolated thanks to consistent and personalized interactions with ElliQ.
• 94% improvement in key mental health indicators: Users experienced noticeable boosts in mood, activity levels, and motivation to engage in daily tasks.

These results reinforce the growing role of proactive social robots in improving older adults’ quality of life and their potential impact on public health.

A Revolution in Human-AI Relationships

Since its launch, ElliQ has proven effective in real-world settings, with over 2,500 users and a database of interactions spanning up to three years. However, adoption hasn’t been without challenges. Dor Skuler acknowledges that working with people in their 80s and 90s—many of whom have never used technology—poses unique obstacles in terms of accessibility and acceptance.

Beyond initiating conversations proactively, ElliQ continuously learns and adapts to each user’s individual needs. To enable this, Intuition Robotics has developed an advanced context-aware classification system for its interactions.

ElliQ records an average of 30 interactions per user per day, generating a vast dataset that includes insights into user habits, emotional states, and preferences. With this memory, the robot can recall past conversations, detect emotional patterns, and adjust its tone and responses based on each person’s history.

ElliQ also operates under a goal-prioritization system that balances tasks such as encouraging physical activity, promoting cognitive engagement, and issuing medication reminders. For every interaction, the AI considers multiple factors to determine the most relevant action at that moment, including:

• Emotional state of the user, identified through voice analysis and conversation patterns
• Recent engagement levels, to fine-tune the frequency and nature of suggestions
• Time of day and personal routines, to ensure timely and non-intrusive interactions

This holistic approach turns ElliQ into a true AI companion, capable of dynamically adjusting its behavior to enhance users’ quality of life.

An Ethical Approach

ElliQ has been designed with an ethical framework that prioritizes privacy, user consent, and accessibility.

• Active consent: All collected data—such as interaction patterns or health-related indicators—are only used with the user’s explicit permission and stored under strict security standards.
• Inclusive design: ElliQ is built to be accessible to older adults with varying levels of digital literacy, offering an intuitive interface and simple voice commands.

Importantly, ElliQ is also economically accessible, enabling older adults from diverse backgrounds to benefit from this technology. It is currently available free of charge through programs funded by government agencies, non-profits, and health insurance providers, who view ElliQ as a valuable tool for reducing social isolation and promoting healthier habits. It can also be purchased independently, providing flexibility for integration at home.

The Future of Social AI

ElliQ’s success raises important questions about the future of human-machine interaction. How do we balance autonomy and assistance? To what extent should AI form relationships with humans?

Dor Skuler emphasizes that the goal is to design AI that enhances autonomy without replacing human contact. “We don’t want technology to replace people—we want it to strengthen family and social bonds,” he stresses.

With the growing integration of Embodied AI into healthcare, ElliQ offers a glimpse of what lies ahead. The combination of proactivity, personalization, and empathy in social robots has the potential to radically transform the lives of older adults, paving the way for AI to become a genuine companion in everyday life.

ElliQ’s success not only demonstrates the impact of Embodied AI in combating loneliness, but also signals the emergence of a new category: emotionally intelligent technology.

• International expansion: ElliQ is being adapted to new markets with linguistic and cultural adjustments.
• Integration into healthcare ecosystems: Future versions could connect with medical systems, providing real-time data to caregivers and healthcare professionals.
• Multigenerational interaction: Although designed for older adults, ElliQ’s capabilities could evolve to support shared activities across generations.

With its unique ability to create emotional connections and enhance quality of life, ElliQ marks a turning point in human-AI interaction and redefines the role of artificial intelligence in society.

Could ElliQ signal the beginning of a new era in human-AI relationships? Are we ready to live alongside robots that care for and support us?