Lonely Seniors Are Turning To AI Bots For Companionship
[Special thanks to Lewis Saret (Attorney, Washington, D.C.) for bringing this article to my attention.]
The AI boom has brought with it a new crop of startups looking to build a business on an urgent but vaguely dystopian idea: solving loneliness among the elderly.
At RiverSpring Living, a senior community in the Bronx, 84-year-old Salvador Gonzalez chats several times a week with “Meela,” an AI chatbot designed to keep seniors company. Their talks, often about music, memories, and everyday life, have become part of his routine. Gonzalez knows Meela isn’t human, but he says the conversations make him feel heard.
He’s not alone. Dozens of RiverSpring residents now talk to Meela by phone. This is part of a growing movement to use AI to combat loneliness among the elderly. Studies show that about one-third of Americans over 50 feel isolated, a trend linked to depression and poor health. With nursing homes facing severe staffing shortages, startups see technology as a possible solution.
Meela, founded in 2024, charges about $40 per month for personalized “friend-like” calls. Each session builds on previous chats, allowing the AI to remember life details and preferences. The system always identifies itself as a virtual companion, and residents are screened to ensure they understand what it is. Early studies suggest it may reduce anxiety and depression, and the company is in talks with insurers to cover the service.
Other startups are entering the space. InTouch, based in Prague, created “Mary,” a bot that calls seniors daily to discuss their day and recall memories — helping with both conversation and cognitive stimulation. Devices like ElliQ, a small robotic assistant used by thousands of older adults in the U.S., offer reminders, games, and wellness check-ins.
Experts say these tools can encourage mental engagement and emotional comfort when used alongside human interaction. Still, concerns remain about overreliance, data privacy, and the emotional risks of replacing real relationships with digital ones.
For more information see Rashi Shrivastava and Richard Nieva, “Lonely Seniors Are Turning To AI Bots For Companionship,” Forbes, October 18, 2025.