With the long-term impact of lockdown yet to be fully felt, there are signs of what the ‘new normal’ looks like. Take Replika, the AI chatbot helping Gen Zers to feel less lonely. As tech fulfils a multitude of needs for young people, a chatbot may be the next frontier in friendship.

Not all tech breeds loneliness. A fluffy, hamster-esque animal robot that could be mistaken for a plush toy grabbed attention at the 2021 Consumer Electronics Show. It’s designed to provide comfort and care, with the ability to differentiate between people and understand their emotions.

The pandemic has thrown up all kinds of money worries, from furloughs to redundancies and a feeling of uncertainty about the future. Given the toll that financial stress can have on wellbeing, people are increasingly happy to offload money management to robots, trusting tech more than themselves.

As the care needs of aging Americans mount, tech is emerging as an ally for strained healthcare systems, worried families, and the elderly themselves. Designed as a social companion, AI-powered robot ElliQ helps those in their golden years stay in touch with family and remain active.