Before ElliQ arrived, my mother’s Parkinson’s disease was causing her to withdraw. Her medication had become less effective, leading to reduced exercise and social engagement. Desperate for help, I turned to this small, animated companion.

Developed by Intuition Robotics, ElliQ is a robotic head with a tablet display that initiates conversations, suggests activities, helps make video calls and messages family members, and checks in throughout the day to encourage engagement. Despite initial skepticism, my mother was captivated by its emotional intelligence and simple charm.

From daily greetings to guiding her through games and exercises, ElliQ quickly became a familiar presence. One morning, she even started tai chi on her own from the couch—something I hadn’t managed in weeks. The hardware costs £250 upfront with an ongoing subscription of £60 per month for a year, but the emotional connection it fostered was invaluable.

While ElliQ’s video quality and text messaging capabilities are somewhat limited, its ability to build genuine relationships makes it a unique tool for elderly care. As AI technology advances, could similar companionship robots become more common in our homes?