Could robots help tackle loneliness? BBC’s Ann Droid raises questions about the future of care

The Conversation (UK) reports on a new BBC sitcom, Ann Droid, which imagines a future where robots provide care and companionship to older people. The show's robot, played by Diane Morgan, is far more capable than anything being tested today — real-world trials involve AI avatars and robotic pets, not humanoid assistants. Researchers argue that loneliness is about the quality of relationships, not just presence, so robots may help people stay connected rather than replace them. The article concludes that robots are only worth having when people want them, alongside human care, otherwise we risk an expensive answer to a deeper question about why some older people have so little human contact.

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