Neuroscientist Dr. Allison Sekuler told CTV Your Morning on Thursday that AI can help supplement the need for connection for seniors struggling with loneliness, offering an alternative for people living alone. She described using ElliQ, an AI-companion robot, which greeted her after conferences and knew her music preferences. The robot initiates conversations when people are lonely and offers reminders to take medication, schedule social events, and connect with friends and family. Sekuler also mentioned Amical AI, a Quebec-based technology for those living with dementia, which allows users to pick up a phone and converse with an AI agent. She emphasized that AI is a supplement, not a replacement, for human companionship, noting that "ElliQ can’t give you a hug." She cautioned that while Amical sounds like a real person, users should not get confused about that. Sekuler said loneliness is not just an emotional issue but also a physical one, impacting longevity in the same way smoking 15 cigarettes a day can. It has been linked to increased risk for heart disease, inflammation in the body and brain, decline in sleep hygiene, and cognitive health, all of which are risk factors for dementia.