A worker takes a call at a call center in Seoul. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, Jan. 17 (Korea Bizwire) — The Seoul Metropolitan Government plans to start a trial of an artificial intelligence (AI) phone call service to say hello to about 300 middle-aged individuals living alone in Seoul within the first half of this year.
The service will use an AI program designed to make phone calls to contact middle-aged people living alone on a regular basis to check how they are doing, whether they are eating properly and whether their health is good.
In addition to common greetings, the AI will also offer appropriate responses to any questions the individual might have.
The city government earmarked 100 million won (US$83,950) for the project this year.
After implementing the trial project with a focus on middle-aged individuals living alone, who can be more easily alienated with the nation’s single-person household policies mainly centered on young and elderly people, the city government plans to expand the coverage of the service towards all age groups if it is proved to be effective.
According to a report published last year by the Seoul 50 Plus Foundation, middle-aged people (50 to 64 years old) accounted for 54.9 percent of solitary deaths in 2020. Middle-aged individuals also accounted for 47.8 percent of unclaimed deaths.
Prior to Seoul’s initiative, Haeundae District in the southeastern city of Busan launched an AI phone call service for elderly single-person households in April last year.
Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
