Do you need an AI companion?
The next phone call you receive may be from “someone” who is always happy to talk to you.
Human help
If you need somebody to talk to for mental health reasons, there are Australian services that will connect you to a real person.
These include Lifeline on 13 11 14 or at lifeline.org.au, Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636, and, for First Nations Australians, 13 YARN (13 92 76).
Would you pay about $30 a month to talk on the phone to a robot?
An increasing number of seniors are doing so, and several services are now programmed to talk to older people in a manner that keeps them engaged and entertained.
While satisfaction rates seem to be high, “friends” generated by artificial intelligence (AI) do pose some ethical and practical problems.
We’ve already written about physical robots that are used in aged-care and hospital settings, but the latest development is in chatbots that are specifically designed to talk to you over your mobile or home phone, tablet, smart speaker, or laptop computer.
Tools such as the United States-based Senior Talk and Meela, are designed to hold conversations, offer reminders, and provide a comforting presence for older people who live alone or have limited day‑to‑day social contact.
These bots are conversational companions that use natural language processing to chat in a plain, everyday manner.
Many are designed with older users in mind: with larger text interfaces, slower-paced interactions, and simple prompts.
Common features include casual conversation, daily check-ins, reminders to take medication or attend appointments, and gentle encouragement to stay active or hydrated.
Some systems can also answer general questions or help users navigate basic technology tasks. They can even remember previous conversations, so you can pick up where you left off, as you might in a discussion with a friend.
Users have reported holding conversations about everything from current sport results to old movies and music. But, of course, all this comes at a price, with a monthly subscription required.
The primary audience for these tools is older adults who value their independence but may benefit from extra support. This includes those living alone, with reduced mobility, or whose families live far away.
Care providers and family members may also see value in these services as a supplement to human care, offering reassurance that someone – or something – is checking in regularly.
These tools are not just for people with medical needs; many are aimed at socially active seniors who simply enjoy conversation and structure in their day.
However, AI chatbots have clear limitations. First, although they have names and can share “memories”, they are not human.
While they can simulate empathy and remember preferences, they do not truly understand emotions or complex personal histories.
In extreme cases, they can offer false information or give dangerous advice. Do not, for example, rely on them for help with medication or financial matters.
This means their responses can sometimes feel generic, miss emotional nuance, or fail to recognise when a conversation signals distress. As a result, they should never be relied on for mental health crises or emergency situations.
Privacy and data security are another concern. These systems often collect personal information to function effectively, raising questions about how data is stored, used, and protected.
Older users may not always be fully aware of these issues, making transparency and consent critical.
These AI companions are best seen as complements, not replacements, for human connection.
Regular contact with family, friends, and carers remains essential for wellbeing.
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