AI Dolls Help Lonely Elderly People in South Korea

Bang Chun-ja is 78 years old and lives alone in South Korea. She spends her days with a special AI doll that talks to her and keeps her company. The doll helps her feel less lonely and sad. Many older people in South Korea are getting these smart dolls to help them.

Bang's AI doll is called Hyodol and looks like a cute child with pigtails and a pink dress. The doll greets Bang when she comes home and sings to her when she feels bored. It also reminds her to eat her meals and take her medicine. Bang says the doll makes her laugh and never hurts her feelings like people sometimes do.

South Korea has a big problem with lonely older people. Almost half of the people in the country are 50 years old or older. Many families have very few children, so older adults often live by themselves. In 2024, more than 3,920 people died alone in their homes and nobody found them for a long time.

The government is giving AI dolls and robots to help solve this problem. These devices can talk to elderly people and watch for signs that they might need help. Some cities like Seoul and Yongin are providing these smart companions to seniors who live alone. Other companies make similar robots that look cute and friendly.

Kim Ji-hee is the head of the company that makes Hyodol. She spent years talking to lonely elderly people to understand what they needed. She learned that these people felt sad because they had nobody to talk to about their feelings. The doll was designed to act like a loving grandchild that needs care from its user.