New York extends AI companion program in partnership with Intuition Robotics


The New York State Office for the Aging (NYSOFA) has prolonged its partnership with Intuition Robotics to proceed bringing the ElliQ proactive AI companion to growing old New Yorkers susceptible to loneliness and social isolation.

The partnership extension follows three years of measurable outcomes demonstrating ElliQ’s capability to cut back loneliness, enhance well being and wellbeing, and assist older adults stay more healthy and extra impartial in their very own houses.

NYSOFA established its first public-private partnership in 2018, following a report by AARP and the US Facilities for Medicare and Medicaid Providers (CMS) on the affect of loneliness and social isolation on older adults and Medicare spending.

It acknowledged that loneliness and isolation are equal to smoking nearly a pack of cigarettes per day, prices Medicare greater than $7 billion to deal with, make persistent situations worse, enhance mortality, despair and nervousness, and enhance the danger of dementia.

Recognizing the numerous instruments that now exist to fill in service gaps, improve companies, and handle workforce shortages, NYSOFA has expanded our partnerships with greater than 30 expertise firms to extend service provision and enhance the general well being and welfare of older adults as described by the Older Individuals Act.


This work enhances structural coverage adjustments, together with NYSOFA’s choice, early within the Covid-19 pandemic, so as to add a social isolation display screen to NYSOFA’s complete evaluation in addition to a expertise display screen, in order that people may be linked to digital options if these options are an applicable match.

NYSOFA director Greg Olsen stated: “Loneliness and isolation are generally heard at the moment, however make no mistake, the well being results are devastating and NYSOFA is working repeatedly to offer the assistance older New Yorkers want.

“ElliQ is a vital software to assist fight the loneliness epidemic, becoming a member of dozens of different initiatives launched by NYSOFA to beat the digital divide, handle social isolation, enhance well being and wellness, and help caregivers.”

Since launching in 2022, a whole bunch of older adults throughout New York have obtained ElliQ by means of this system, whereas demand continues to develop, with greater than 3,500 older adults making use of to take part in 2025 alone.

Newly reported program knowledge from 2026 demonstrates ElliQ’s affect on the older adults dwelling with the system:

  • 92 p.c of ElliQ customers discover the companion helpful.
  • Members interact with ElliQ a median of 48 instances per day, up from 29 every day interactions in reporting from earlier years.
  • 94 p.c report feeling much less lonely, 97 p.c report improved general wellbeing, 88 p.c say ElliQ has made a constructive distinction of their every day lives, and 79 p.c really feel extra linked to the world round them.
  • Each month, 88 p.c of members interact in two-way conversations with ElliQ, 92 p.c usually share updates about their wellbeing, and 81 p.c take part in bodily exercise inspired by ElliQ.
  • 88 p.c of customers discover that ElliQ has each improved their life for the higher and their high quality of life.

Dor Skuler, CEO and co-founder of Instinct Robotics, stated: “This partnership extension continues our long run partnership with the state of New York, and its Workplace for the Getting older, reflecting three years of measurable, record-breaking engagement outcomes: older adults throughout New York are participating with ElliQ extra usually, feeling much less lonely, and staying extra linked to the individuals who matter to them.

“What now we have seen is that an AI companion who remembers the older grownup, checks in each morning, and encourages them to take a stroll or name their daughter can meaningfully change how linked and impartial somebody feels. That’s the consequence New York continues to put money into.”