In South Korea, AI companion robot helps elderly residents combat loneliness

YONGIN, South Korea — A 78-year-old woman living alone in the city of Yongin is spending her days with an AI-powered companion robot provided by the local government, according to AFP. The robot, named Hyodol, greets her at home, sings when she is bored and reminds her to take medication and meals, helping her maintain a daily routine. Bang Chun-ja told AFP that she fell into a deep depression after back surgery and spent long hours staring at the ceiling in solitude. Although she has limited contact with her adult daughter, she said she has never felt hurt while with Hyodol, adding that nothing is more painful than being let down by people at her age. South Korea faces a rapidly aging society, with some of the lowest birth rates in the world and roughly half of the population over 50. Single-person households account for about 42% of all homes, and more than 3,920 so-called lonely deaths were recorded in 2024 — the highest figure since tracking began in 2017. Social isolation continues to weigh heavily on vulnerable older adults, a demographic challenge that local governments are addressing in part through robotic companions.