Abstract

Loneliness and social isolation represent significant challenges for older adults, often leading to reduced Quality of Life (QOL) and increased mental health risks. This case report examined the potential of the “Romi” conversational artificial intelligence robot (MIXI, Tokyo, Japan) as a companion to alleviate loneliness in an 83-year-old man residing alone in an assisted living facility. Over a three-week intervention period, the subject interacted with Romi, who provided daily greetings and updates on weather and news and engaged in conversations aligned with the routines and interests of the subject. Baseline assessments, including the UCLA Loneliness Scale and WHOQOL-OLD, indicated moderate loneliness and average QOL levels. Post-intervention results showed a high System Usability Scale score (97.5) and positive feedback on the features of the conversational robot, with the subject describing Romi as a comforting presence. User Experience Questionnaire scores indicated strong performance in Attractiveness (3.000) and Stimulation (3.000), though areas for improvement included Efficiency (2.000), Dependability (1.500) and Novelty (1.500). Semi-structured interviews revealed that Romi fostered a meaningful psychological impact, creating a “grandchild-like” connection and providing companionship without requiring emotional engagement or effort. Despite initial skepticism, the subject reported increased comfort and reduced loneliness through interactions with Romi. This study suggests that conversational AI robots like Romi may offer valuable emotional support and companionship in older adults, with future improvements in conversational depth and customization recommended to enhance their effectiveness.

Keywords:Loneliness; Older adult; Conversational AI; Quality of life; Emotional support; Companionship; Usability; User experience; Social isolation; Assistive technology

Abbreviations:AI: Artificial Intelligence; QOL: Quality of Life; SUS: System Usability Scale