NYSOFA expands partnership with Intuition Robotics to bring ElliQ to more seniors

The New York State Office on the Aging, or NYSOFA, last week extended its partnership with Intuition Robotics. The company will continue to bring its AI companion ElliQ to older New Yorkers at risk of loneliness and social isolation.

With the expansion, NYSOFA and Intuition Robotics have created a new three-year, $2.1 million agreement.

The expansion builds on the organizations’ three-year experience of working together. During this time, ElliQ has demonstrated its ability to reduce loneliness and improve health and well-being. The robot also helps seniors stay healthier and more independent in their own homes.

“We hear about loneliness and isolation commonly these days, but make no mistake, the health effects are devastating, and NYSOFA continually works to provide the help older New Yorkers need,” said Greg Olsen, director of the office. “ElliQ is an essential tool to help fight the loneliness epidemic, joining dozens of other projects launched by NYSOFA to overcome the digital divide, address social isolation, improve health and well-being, and support caregivers.”

NYSOFA established its first public-private partnership in 2018, following a report from AARP and the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on the impact of loneliness and social isolation on older adults and on Medicare spending. Loneliness and isolation are said to be equivalent to smoking nearly a pack of cigarettes a day, cost Medicare more than $7 billion to treat, and worsen chronic conditions. They can also increase mortality, depression, anxiety and the risk of dementia.

In addition to its partnership with NYSOFA, Intuition Robotics has similar partnerships in Wisconsin, Florida and Washington. In Washington, the program is aimed at Medicaid beneficiaries. The Ramat Gan, Israel-based company was founded in 2016.

NYSOFA reports favorable results with ElliQ so far

Since launching in 2022, hundreds of seniors across New York have received ElliQ through the program as demand continues to grow. In 2025 alone, more than 3,500 seniors have applied to participate.

“Perhaps most importantly, the partnership has reinforced that effective AI companionship isn’t just about answering questions or providing reminders. It’s about proactively engaging older adults, understanding their individual needs, and building the trust and familiarity that make technology a meaningful part of their daily lives,” an Intuition Robotics spokesperson said. The robot report.

Newly reported program data from 2026 demonstrates ElliQ’s impact on seniors living with the device:

• 92% of ElliQ users find the companion useful.
• Participants interacted with ElliQ an average of 48 times per day, compared to 29 daily interactions found in previous years’ reports.
• 94% report feeling less alone, 97% report improved overall well-being, 88% say ElliQ has made a positive difference in their daily lives, and 79% feel more connected to the world around them.
• Each month, 88% of participants engage in two-way conversations with ElliQ, 92% share regular wellness updates, and 81% participate in physical activity encouraged by ElliQ.
• 88% of users believe that ElliQ has improved both their lives for the better and their quality of life.

“This partnership extension continues our long-term partnership with New York State and its Office on the Aging, reflecting three years of measurable results and record-breaking engagement: New York older adults engage with ElliQ more often, feel less alone, and remain more connected to the people who matter to them,” said Dor Skuler, co-founder and CEO of Intuition Robotics.

“What we’ve seen is that an AI companion who remembers the senior, checks on them every morning, and encourages them to go for a walk or call their daughter can significantly change how connected and independent someone feels,” he added. “This is what New York continues to invest in.”