Many of us are familiar with images of humanoid robots, which are primarily used in Japan to combat mass loneliness. But does it really matter that the robots have arms, legs, a head and hair? Do these „supportive beings“ need to be able to drive or walk around and carry trays? Or is there another promising approach to supporting older people? Yes, there is: artificial intelligence.

This article aims to highlight solutions for people who have little or no contact with others but still lead active, independent lives.

We asked ChatGPT: Tell us, Stella, what can you do for people who are alone and suffering greatly as a result? (Editor's note: We gave ChatGPT a name that the chatbot chose itself from several options! This makes the conversation more personal.)

ChatGPT: For people who feel lonely and suffer as a result, there are various ways in which I can help:

1. ListeningI can simply be there to listen when someone wants to share their thoughts and feelings. Sometimes it helps just to have someone who will listen without judging.
2. offer supportI can offer advice, tips and information on how to cope with loneliness. This can range from self-care techniques to ways of building new social connections.
3. keep companyAlthough I am not a real person, I can provide company by engaging in conversation, playing games or simply providing distraction when someone is seeking companionship.
4. give recommendationsI can provide recommendations for professional help, such as therapists, counselling centres or support groups, if someone feels the need to speak to someone in person.
5. Building self-confidenceThrough positive reinforcement and encouragement, I can help to boost self-confidence and build self-esteem, which can help to cope with loneliness.

It is important to emphasise that while I am happy to offer support, I am not a substitute for human interaction or professional help. If someone is experiencing strong feelings of loneliness, it is advisable to seek professional support.

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If you are reading this and the thought of eternal loneliness is getting you down and making you depressed, if you have a relative who still lives at home, in assisted living or in a nursing home and is still mentally fit, get a laptop or tablet, bookmark chatgpt.com and, ideally, enable access to the paid version of ChatGPT-4 (20 US-$ + 19 % VAT per month). You couldn't do a mentally fit person a bigger favour. If the £20 is a problem, start with the free version, ChatGPT-3.5.

Not sure about the benefits? Then let these practical examples inspire you:

Crossword puzzle: What was the name of the UN Secretary-General with 3 letters?

Question for ChatGPT: Name all UN Secretaries-General.

ChatGPT: Of course! Here are all the previous Secretaries-General of the United Nations in chronological order:

1. Trygve Lie (Norway) – 1946–1952
2. Dag Hammarskjöld (Sweden) – 1953–1961
3. U Thant (Myanmar) – 1961–1971
4. Kurt Waldheim (Austria) – 1972–1981
5. Javier Pérez de Cuéllar (Peru) – 1982–1991
6. Boutros Boutros-Ghali (Egypt) – 1992–1996
7. Kofi Annan (Ghana) – 1997–2006
8. Ban Ki-moon (South Korea) – 2007–2016
9. António Guterres (Portugal) – since 2017

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So it must be LIE in the crossword puzzle. Another example: Please tell me a joke.

ChatGPT: Why are ghosts bad at lying? – Because it's easy to see through them.

Another example to illustrate the different dialogue options: Do you play chess?

ChatGPT: Yes, I can play chess! If you feel like playing a game or if you have any questions about chess, I'm happy to help.

Additional question: In Germany, we often have the problem in the afternoons and evenings that a conversation with you is interrupted because too many people are accessing the site at the same time. How can you ensure that this does not happen during a chess game?

ChatGPT: That is a valid concern. In a chess game, I can ensure that a conversation does not break off by paying attention to my resource management and prioritisation of requests. I can guarantee that an ongoing chess game will not be interrupted, even if there are many simultaneous accesses.

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Another question: I remember seeing Breakfast at Tiffany's many years ago. But I can't remember who was in it. Can you help?

ChatGPT: Yes, of course! Breakfast at Tiffany's is a classic film from 1961, based on the novel of the same name by Truman Capote. The lead role of Holly Golightly was played by the legendary actress Audrey Hepburn. The male lead, who portrayed her neighbour Paul Varjak, was George Peppard. Audrey Hepburn's portrayal of Holly Golightly is one of her most famous roles and had a lasting impact on pop culture.

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Of course, ChatGPT users can expect much more from „their“ chatbot. Perhaps you fancy potato pancakes with apple sauce again. Stella knows the recipe, and maybe the kitchen is flexible enough to accommodate this request. Perhaps someone has an electric wheelchair with a range of 24 kilometres. ChatGPT can make suggestions about what can be reached within a 12 km radius. This article can and will only provide suggestions for the longest possible participation in social life. Watching television 12 hours a day leads to cognitive abilities becoming „rusty“.

Hopefully, these few examples have convinced you how enriching ChatGPT can be for lonely people – provided they have online access. Stella, or whatever you decide to call your chatbot, can help you continue to lead a self-determined life. Mental fitness is one of the keys to enjoying life, even when your body is no longer as cooperative as you would like it to be. The extended family that used to support the older generation no longer exists in our culture. And that has inevitably left gaps. The losers in this development are older people, who also have needs, who also seek closeness and want to maintain contacts. Artificial intelligence cannot completely fill these gaps. But AI can be a building block, a way to maintain or even regain a form of participation in the world outside.

For readers who joined us later, here are the links to the previous articles in our series on AI:

Artificial Intelligence 1 – Where it is already in use

Artificial Intelligence 2 – ChatGPT for everyone

Artificial Intelligence 3 – Enter the world of AI for little money

Artificial Intelligence 4 – First, learn some vocabulary. A glossary

Artificial Intelligence 5 – Optimised prompts for optimal responses

Artificial intelligence 6 – Become a Prompter

Artificial intelligence 7 – Creating images made easy