Meet Abi: Human‑companionship robot for senior communities debuts from Australia to Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — Companies worldwide are increasingly turning to robotics, and one brightly colored robot may soon be a familiar sight in Bay Area senior communities. Unlike machines designed to boost efficiency or replace human labor, this one is intended to offer companionship.

Abi, a social humanoid robot created by Grace Brown, founder of Australia-based Andromeda Robotics, is designed to support residents in assisted senior living facilities. Brown, who now lives in the Bay Area, hopes to bring the technology to the United States after its rollout in Australia.

“This is Abi, she’s a social humanoid robot and goes into assisted senior living communities to interact with residents,” Brown said. “Lots of people describe her as a best friend or even a grandchild walking through the door.”

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According to Brown, Abi can speak 90 languages, express emotions and even organize dance parties. She said the robot’s purpose is to bring joy to residents who may otherwise feel isolated.

“In assisted living homes about 60% of residents will never receive a visit from a family member or friend from the time they enter the home,” she said. “Abi comes to the communities to be a friend, to bring joy and fill a void that is often left empty.”

Brown said Abi was intentionally designed for human connection rather than industrial use.

“Most of the robotics industry today is building humanoid robots for industrial use cases to make things more efficient and improve productivity but Abi was built for an entirely different purpose,” she said. “She was built to be a companion and a friend for many demographics of people that she could add value to and improve the quality of life of.”

Abi is already in nursing facilities in Australia, where Brown said residents were receptive from the start. The goal, she said, was “to build a Pixar character brought to life.”

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Brown began developing Abi during the isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“She started as a passion project during Covid to keep the founder company during many lonely months. The vision was to reach millions and address loneliness,” she said.

With interest growing, Brown said the company has opened a waitlist for U.S. assisted living facilities.

“We’re really just expanding and taking all the learning from Australia and bringing it here to the Bay Area and the United States,” she said.