Robots in care homes - how AI rollout could change the way people grow old in Britain
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Keir Starmer says AI has the potential to transform the lives of Brits - and that includes those who were born before even computers were invented. Launching his AI Opportunities Action Plan today, the PM vowed to make the UK a "world leader" in AI technology while promising to boost growth and make public services more efficient.
In fact intelligent robots can already be found in some UK care homes, with one study finding they helped boost mental health and reduce loneliness. And some could even be mistaken for a real person, like the AI robot Nadine, which learns to recognise residents' faces, remembers their past conversations and can even lead daily exercises, singalongs and play bingo.
Nadine was created bySwiss robotician Professor Nadia Thalmann, who was working in Singapore when her elderly mum moved to a home back in Switzerland. Seeing that overworked care home staff didn't have time to spend with residents inspired her to develop a robot companion - in her imagine.
Nadia could only fly back to see her every two months, but says: “Even so, staff there said I was one of the people who visited their loved ones the most often. In care homes no one has time to spend with each individual, just to chat, read a book or play bingo. Most people who work in elderly homes come from elsewhere, so they often don’t share the same upbringing or history that helps older people to reminisce and engage in conversation. Most elderly people are on their own all the time.”.
Already a pioneer in research into virtual humans, Nadia, who set up MIRALab at the University of Geneva, decided to create an AI-powered robot that could be a companion to those lacking human interaction – and that could revolutionise the way elderly people are cared for.
