To Stay in Her Home, She Let In an A.I. Robot

The New York Times • February 12, 2026 • business

Key Points:

Jan Worrell, an 85-year-old widow living alone on the Long Beach Peninsula, received a robot companion named ElliQ from local firefighters as part of a pilot program for seniors.
ElliQ is a small, interactive device designed to provide companionship and engagement, featuring a tablet, camera, and a cheerful voice interface.
The robot was provided free of charge by a regional nonprofit, which also covers the annual subscription cost of approximately $700.
Jan, who has lived in her home for over 20 years and rarely leaves or sees others since her husband's death, was initially skeptical about the robot but was introduced to it in hopes it would become a new companion.