A local advocate pushing for increased distribution of the devices among the city’s residents asserts that a 70-year-old man from Queens was rescued by an AI speaker when he suffered from food poisoning and medication overdose at his residence.
As per Assemblyman Ron Kim (D- Kings), Doo Soo Yoo, a cancer patient residing in Flushing, faced this health emergency last year.
Fortunately, the elderly gentleman was saved by a voice-activated NUGU bright speaker, an artificial intelligence device provided to him at no cost through Kim’s $500,000 state grant, with plans to introduce more of these devices in local households.
Due to a shortage of in-home caregivers offering round-the-clock assistance, the implementation of this AI system helps bridge the service gaps, as mentioned by Kim to The Post.
The AI speaker promptly alerts an off-site care management team if an unwell or elderly individual remains silent or unresponsive for an extended period, excluding sleep, and also sends reminders for medication intake.
Upon the elderly man’s lack of interaction with the AI speaker, the system alerted his home care manager to check on him.
Subsequently, when contacted by his care manager, Soo Yoo mentioned feeling unwell before becoming unresponsive.
In a report by Kevin C. Downs for the NY Post, Doo Soo Yoo, a 70-year-old cancer patient, shared his experience with the life-saving NUGU smart speaker alongside State Assemblyman Ron Kim.
Following the emergency response, Soo Yoo received timely medical assistance and recovered fully.
Expressing gratitude, Yoo stated, “This NUGU AI care unit saved my life and could potentially aid individuals like me living alone.”
Kim, chair of the Assembly Aging Committee, secured a $500,000 state grant to distribute these devices at no cost, aiming to combat the growing social isolation and depression among seniors like Soo Yoo.
The device, manufactured by Stat Telecom and distributed in the US by LISMA, initially gained popularity in South Korea during the COVID-19 crisis.
The AI technology within the device was developed by Soo Yoo, Minsun Kim, chairman of the LISMA Foundation, and Jeffrey Park, as reported by Kevin C. Downs for the NY Post.
Alexa, primarily designed for answering queries, and NUGU have established compatibility through an agreement with Amazon.
The AI system from SK Telecom, acknowledged for saving 499 lives by providing critical alerts to top caregivers in Korea, was endorsed by Kim, the first and only Korean-American elected to the state government thus far.
The Stat Telecom speaker system, designed to aid the elderly, exemplifies the positive impact AI can have, according to the senator.
Kim emphasized the importance of utilizing AI effectively, leveraging public funds to offer the smart speaker to 100 senior citizens in Queens, with plans to extend the distribution to a total of 200 elderly individuals.
He stressed the need for additional funding to expand the program citywide, highlighting that AI-powered speaker support should complement rather than replace in-home care providers.
“We are collaborating with home care services and senior care facilities,” stated the Queens senator, underscoring the potential of AI to enhance healthcare delivery and benefit seniors.
