Dud dog

Japan has two new ways of relieving the loneliness of elderly people who live alone or in nursing homes.

At the Ichoan Nursing Home in the city of Kitakyushu, children under three years old brighten up the day of its 100 elderly residents.

The nursing home's director, Kimie Gondo, came up with the idea of having "baby workers" three years ago when her own newborn granddaughter was visiting her at the home, and she saw how happy it made the residents, Sky News reported.

Seventy baby workers keep company the nursing home residents and are rewarded after their shifts with nappies and ice cream, according to Sky News.

For lonely older residents of western Japan, Osaka authorities launched this year the artificial intelligence-powered chatbot named "Dai-chan."

According to Agence France-Presse, the chatbot features a Shiba Inu cartoon dog and answers in the Osaka dialect.

Like virtual assistants Siri and Alexa, Dai-chan can talk with old people, providing companionship. It gained public attention when the local media reported Dai-chan's answers to questions posed by some users.

When a user asked about the World Expo planned in Osaka in 2025, the dog replied that the event was canceled, AFP reported.

Asked about the Group of 7 foreign ministers meeting, Dai-chan said it will be held on 4 November.

To a query about the Sapporo Olympic Games, the chatbot said it was postponed.

The World Expo was not canceled, the G7 meeting is on 7 to 8 November, and the Japanese Olympic Committee said Sapporo had given up its bid for the 2030 Winter Olympics.

The government has defended the chatbot, saying its purpose "is to broaden the communication base for elderly people and not to give correct answer every time," according to AFP.

Asked by AFP for its reaction to its errors, Dai-chan said: "Yes, yes, I often make mistakes, but it's a bit hard that people report about it. But making mistakes is part of growth, isn't it?"      

WJG WITH AFP @tribunephl_wjg