A South Korean company, Hyodol, has registered its AI-powered companion doll for seniors with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The doll, first released in 2019, offers emotional, safety, and emergency care support, acting as a seven-year-old grandchild with personalized, real-time conversations powered by AI.

It helps with meal and medication management, cognitive tests, and can alert healthcare centers in emergencies.

Hyodol aims to expand to North America next year.

With South Korea’s aging population, the doll is part of efforts to address loneliness and cognitive disorders among seniors, Mobile Health News has reported.

Similar robots are being trialed in other countries like Australia.

Written by B.C. Begley