AI-Powered companion robots help ease loneliness among the elderly in East Asia

As of November 2025, over 12,000 Hyodol robots have been deployed to elderly people living alone across South Korea, primarily distributed through government and public welfare programs. Kim adds that around 1,000 more have been purchased directly by families, with the latest model priced at 1.3 million won (approximately $879). Today, the PARO robot companion is used in more than 30 countries, from Japan to Denmark, and a similar global expansion is already underway for Hyodol. The Korean company is now adapting its AI to different cultural nuances as it prepares to enter the broader market, with a commercial launch planned for 2026. This isn’t an isolated case. In a 2024 study, Lee reported dozens of seniors giving their robots affectionate nicknames, buying them baby clothes, and tucking them in at night. She also noted that this growing affection correlates with improved mental health, citing a study she carried out on 69 older adults that showed users had reduced depression and improved cognitive scores after using Hyodol for six weeks. “We found that users with mild cognitive impairment who regularly used the robot