The Rise of Robo-Care: Aging Gets an Upgrade

As we age, we might simply swap our car lease payment for a humanoid robotic payment.

The concept of humanoid robots has captured human imagination for millennia. Some of the earliest accounts date to the 4th century BCE in Greek mythologies, as well as various religious and philosophical texts from China. This fascination led to physical prototypes being created across the Middle East, Italy, Japan and France.?

In the 1400s, Leonardo da Vinci made a remarkable breakthrough, conceptualizing a complex mechanical robot in armor called the mechanical knight that could sit, stand, and move its arms independently using a system of pulleys and cables.

Fast forward to the last century when humanoid robots were truly a thing of science fiction, pumped-in to living room televisions and in movie theaters across the world.?

Today, this ancient dream is rapidly becoming reality. The convergence of aging and advanced robotics is no longer the realm of science fiction. As I witnessed at CES 2025, industry leaders demonstrated an undeniable trajectory from basic robotics to sophisticated humanoid assistants.

With 77% of adults over 50 saying they’d prefer to age in place, the idea of a humanoid robot carrying us to the bathroom at night is a real possibility. We’re already seeing early manifestations of this tech: Elon Musk's Optimus (Tesla Bot) has already captured headlines, and other players like Figure are emerging as significant players in the field, potentially revolutionizing how we might age in place with dignity.?

Our future appears to be at the inflection point where centuries of human ingenuity and technological advancement finally intersect to fulfill an age-old vision.

A Staged Approach to Robotic Implementation

While the future is promising for leaps in tech advancements, not everyone is like me and ready for humanoid robots to help them age in place. A recent study out of Oxford University indicated that there was lack of enthusiasm for this approach among their participants, although men were more willing to have humanoid robotic assistance than women.?

With that in mind, we’re more likely to start seeing a nuanced, staged approach to service robots and robot-assisted care.

Robotic devices are already here to help:

• Mobility assists like Samsung's Bot Fit and those from Honda's robotics division
• At-home smart devices that capture and send vitals, like those from Current Health?
• Wearables that monitor health and spot concerns, like CarePredict@Home?

Small companions and robot pets are next:

There’s also an emerging trend of small companion and robot pets that provide emotional support or in-home assistance. They include:

ElliQ from Intuition Robotics, a small, table-top AI companion robot for the home. It’s designed to foster independence and provide support for older adults through daily check-ins, assistance with wellness goals and physical activities.?

Amazon Astro, which can monitor your home, help you stay in touch with loved ones, and act as a virtual assistant. This home robot uses Alexa Voice Services and artificial intelligence to perform tasks.?

LOVOT, a social robot designed to provide companionship and emotional support. It’s also used among people with dementia. The name LOVOT is a combination of the words "love" and "robot.” They are designed as adorable creatures, with big eyes, soft fur, and a block-shaped “horn” on top of their heads, which senses their surroundings. Consumers can also personalize their LOVOT companion with a variety of fashion choices.

Hydol,a new AI companion doll from South Korea that uses advanced language AI to engage in conversations with elderly users, remind them about medications, and monitor their safety through motion detection features. It is designed to help combat loneliness in seniors. The doll is already showing positive impacts on reducing depression among users in South Korea.?

Paro, a sophisticated therapeutic robot seal designed by Japanese firm AIST that uses advanced sensors and learning capabilities to interact with patients like a real animal. In doing so, it provides the benefits of animal therapy in healthcare settings where live animals aren't practical. Its proven benefits include reducing patient and caregiver stress, improving socialization and relaxation, and adapting to user preferences through interactive learning.

Joy for All, which offers robotic pets that wag their tails, snuggle, bark back when you speak to them, and let you feel their soothing heartbeat. The Senior Alliance in Michigan distributed some of Joy for All pet robots to seniors during the COVID-19 pandemic to help combat loneliness.

Ooboo, a tallied cushion that responds to touch with tail wagging, meant to mimic the comfort of petting an animal.?

Aibo, a robotic companion puppy from Sony, pairs cutting-edge robotics with unique A.I. technology. Through deep learning, Aibo is able to grow over time and form a unique personality through everyday interactions.?

Humanoid solutions are further down the pike:

There’s been a measured approach to the evolution of robotics in human-centric environments, with successful implementations focusing on practical applications before advancing toward more complex humanoid forms. While fully autonomous humanoid robots remain largely in development, several companies have made strides in creating robots that interact meaningfully with humans in healthcare, elder care, and commercial settings.?

These solutions demonstrate how robotics can effectively complement human activities while highlighting both the progress and current limitations in human-robot interaction:

• Moxi, developed by Diligent Robotics, is a healthcare robot with a mobile base, seven robotic arms, and perception sensors. It autonomously navigates hospitals to deliver supplies, transport samples, and remove soiled linens. Successfully tested across Texas hospitals, Moxi demonstrates robotics' potential to reduce healthcare providers' workload and improve resource allocation.?

• Nao and Pepper, from SoftBank Robotics, are small and large humanoid robots, respectively. They are currently used mostly in educational and commercial settings as opposed to in the home.

However, the end-game for those nearing the end stages of their lives is truly is the humanoid experiences we’re seeing in robotics from Tesla and Figure. When robots are in human form, they can navigate a human world. This includes assistive tasks, like opening doors or helping a person go from a sit-to-stand position with greater ease. It also includes helping with time-consuming and difficult tasks – such as housework, keeping track of medications, carrying heavy or large items, and reaching high or low.

The Financial Innovation Pipeline for Robotics

As an entrepreneur, when I think of scaling this opportunity, the numbers tell a compelling story:?

• According to a market analysis report from Grand View Research, the global elder care assistive robots market size was estimated at USD 2.53 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 14.8% from 2024 to 2030. Driving this growth is the continual decrease in caregivers. This same report points out that by 2040, there will be a nationwide shortage of 355,000 paid caregivers and 11 million family and friends caregivers.?

• By 2030, the World Health Organization (WHO) projects 1 in 6 people globally will be 60+ years old, with this population growing from 1 billion (2020) to 1.4 billion. By 2050, this number will reach 2.1 billion, while the 80+ population will triple to 426 million. This aging trend drives healthcare market growth.

• AARP projects that Americans aged 50 and older will spend $120 billion on technology by 2030. The company has invested in an AgeTech Collaborative and has even launched an Age Investor Network, which connects groundbreaking startups with visionary investors to shape the future of aging.?

• Goldman Sachs predicts the global market for humanoid robots could reach $38 billion by 2035.?

• Billionaire venture capitalist Vinod Khosla predicts we could see a billion bipedal robots by 2040.

This robust market potential and emerging investment ecosystem are driving new approaches to making personal robotics accessible. The financial landscape is evolving rapidly, drawing inspiration from successful models across industries.?

The automotive crossover:

We already know that Figure has been actively testing robots with BMW at a manufacturing plant in Spartanburg, S.C., where the new humanoid has been performing data collection and use case training, specifically on the production line (for now).?

Just as automotive technology evolved from producing basic transportation to crafting sophisticated vehicles with increasingly advanced features, humanoid robotic technology is also poised for exponential growth in both features and use cases.?

According to Moore’s law, computing performance roughly doubles every two years thanks to new technical innovations. Automotive experts have assigned this thinking to EVs in recent years, but we're likely to see this apply to robotics now as well, with dramatic leaps in their functionality and human-like capabilities.?

The next luxury purchase:

Have the cash? You might choose to purchase your personal robot outright, as well as have an account for ongoing expenses like maintenance, software updates and insurance.?

If not, you may be able to take advantage of a subscription, or lease a service robot for your home. In fact, the same financial institutions that currently handle your car loans might soon be financing your service robot. The infrastructure for consumer robotics adoption may already be taking shape in familiar places.

Robot-as-a-Service (RaaS):

Robots-as-a-service (RaaS) is a business model in which robotics companies offer the use of their robot devices via a subscription-based contract.?

As we age, we might simply swap our car lease payment for a humanoid robotic payment, making advanced care as accessible as transportation is today.

According to Formant, as robotic adoption increases, companies are seeing the value of the RaaS model to reduce risk and provide scalable solutions for customers. This model is currently used for industrial, not home robotics, although it could certainly be transferable.

Current market leaders in industrial RaaS include:

• Locus Robotics for warehouse/fulfillment
• InVia Robotics for warehouse automation
• Berkshire Grey for retail and ecommerce
• Knightscope for security
• Fetch Robotics, now part of Zebra Technologies

These pioneers are creating blueprints for consumer-facing robotics services, which include subscription or lease options. According to the robotics marketplace, Qviro, interested consumers could pay several thousand dollars each month, a hefty price but still likely less than traditional nursing home costs, which can exceed $8,000 per month.

Insurance and government integration:

Healthcare insurers, government programs and managed care organizations are already beginning to see robotic assistance as a means for improving health outcomes. For example, according to an article in Fierce Healthcare, ElliQ is already available to hundreds of thousands of older adults as a fully subsidized service through government agencies, nonprofit organizations, Medicaid Managed Care Organization providers and healthcare payers. We’ll likely see this trend continue as other products emerge.??

Creating Jobs and Economic Growth

The robotics care industry is serving seniors, but it’s also creating opportunities. According to McKinsey, by 2030, activities that account for up to 30 percent of hours currently worked across the US economy could be automated—a trend accelerated by generative AI. You can read that statistic as job loss, or, as job opportunity.?

Robotic devices powered by Gen AI, like personal robot assistants, will require numerous roles to keep their products in market:

• Engineers and AI specialists
• Maintenance technicians
• Specialists who help seniors adapt to automated assistants
• App developers creating interfaces and customization tools
• Integration specialists connecting robotic systems with existing healthcare infrastructure

Conclusion: Robots are the Future of Aging in Place

As this technology matures, we're witnessing a fundamental reimagining of elder care. The implications ripple across sectors:

• Healthcare systems adapting to service robots and robot-assisted care models
• Automotive and insurance companies developing new lease and coverage models
• Social services integrating technological support systems
• Educational institutions creating specialized training programs

While today’s seniors may be hesitant to have robots assist them with aging in place, our youngest generation displays a remarkable capacity to form emotional bonds with robotic devices. Children readily anthropomorphize robots through naming and expressing genuine concern for their wellbeing – whether it's speaking to a voice-assisted device like a member of the family, or worrying about a robot vacuum getting lost on its way back "home" (to its docking station). These interactions reveal how naturally kids already integrate and empathize with automated companions, making the potential for robotic adoption in the future even greater. With this in mind, tomorrow's elder care could certainly mean aging in place with the precision of robotics and the warmth of home.

My Call to Action for You

I’d love to hear your thoughts on any must-have features you’d want in a service robot for elder care.

• What would you require before you’d consider one to help you age in place?
• How do you feel about being carried to bed by a robot?

About the author: Jason Vazzano is a serial entrepreneur, mentor and early-stage investor from Detroit, MI, who has built multiple global companies and products. He believes that Michigan has the potential to be a global destination of innovation and entrepreneurship — and he’s passionate about inspiring the next generation of entrepreneurs to do it.

jasonvazzano.com

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