Do you want a robot to be your emotional support friend or reminder to do things?

I saw this AI powered gadget that is claimed to provide emotional support and/or reminders to perform executive functions (take pills, drink water, wash etc):

https://www.techradar.com/ai-platforms-assistants/sharps-poketomo-targets-millennial-loneliness-with-a-glowing-meerkat-robot-ai

  • Poketomo is designed to provide emotional support, especially for women in their 20s and 30s
  • It combines cute design with conversational AI and syncs with a smartphone app to maintain a continuous relationship

I note other webites are talking about it being of use to dementure patients who need help reminding them when to take medication or for upcoming events.

I have no connection to the company by the way, but reading what people post here I can see some finding it of interest.

I wonder how much use this would be for autists with loneliness issues or executive function problems?

Would you consider something like this?

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  • I remember seeing this 20 years ago when I was studying Japanese/Japanese culture. The young there have become apathetic towards relationships, partly due to the over sexualisation of young people for decades. Now the birth rate has been steadily declining as the death rises, meaning there just aren't young people to care for the elderly. Coupled with Japans aversion to foreigners especially in the elderly, robots might be their only solution.