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New York State officials will distribute robots to hundreds of elderly residents. They're saying these digital companions will remind them to take their medication, help contact loved ones, book an Uber ride and even engage in small talk and crack jokes. The New York State Office for the Aging (NYSOFA) will deliver the robots to the homes of 800 older adults as a way to combat the growing problem of loneliness, state officials said. Greg Olsen, the director of NYSOFA, told The Verge that the state will hand out robots called “ElliQ”, which is manufactured by Israeli tech firm Intuition Robotics. ElliQ is described as a “more proactive version of Siri or Alexa.” “Many features attracted us to ElliQ — that it is a proactive tool, remembers the interactions with the individual, focuses on health and wellness, stress reduction, sleep, hydration, etc,” Olsen told the tech site.
Link: New York Post