AI Cares for Aging South Korea

South Korea is rapidly deploying artificial intelligence to address the challenges of its fastest-aging population. AI chatbots, such as Naver Cloud's 'Talking Buddy,' are engaging with tens of thousands of seniors living alone. These programs provide two- to five-minute conversations designed to reduce loneliness, identify emergencies, and stimulate cognitive function.

One notable instance involved 'Talking Buddy' alerting a social worker when Chung Yun-hee, 77, fell ill, leading to timely surgery. Digital therapeutics, like SuperBrain, funded by the government, offer personalized exercises to slow cognitive decline in individuals diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment. Over 10,000 patients have used SuperBrain since 2021, completing 1.5 million exercise sessions.

These AI solutions, while still developing, are proving invaluable. 'Talking Buddy' evolved from a pandemic tool to a vital care service, with social workers monitoring interactions to manage AI's limitations, such as misunderstanding figurative language. Programs like SuperBrain provide valuable data to physicians, aiding in early detection and management of conditions like dementia, which experts predict will affect two million by 2044.