By Salomé Grouard and Suraj Karowa /ANW Staff Writer ,Seoul, South Korea, November 29, 2025
An elderly woman interacts with an AI-powered Hyodol plushie robot companion.
In a quiet Seoul apartment, 82-year-old Kim Hye-soon cradles a plush doll with oversized eyes and a perpetual grin.
“Grandma, I’ve missed you! Did you eat lunch?” it chirps in a child’s voice. This isn’t a grandchild—it’s Hyodol, an AI-powered robot companion designed to combat South Korea’s escalating elderly suicide epidemic.
As the nation grapples with a “super-aged” society, these cuddly bots are emerging as unlikely heroes, blending cuteness with cutting-edge tech to ease isolation and despair.
South Korea’s elderly suicide rate is a stark tragedy: about 10 seniors die by suicide daily, according to a June 2025 report in the Journal of the Korean Medical Association.
This places the country at the top of OECD nations for such deaths, outpacing even Japan and Hong Kong.
Elderly woman holds an AI-powered Hyodol plushie robot companion. The device is designed to spend 24 hours a day with people who live alone, providing emotional support and health care monitoring.
Rapid industrialization has eroded traditional family structures, leaving one in three seniors living alone amid financial woes and profound loneliness.
“It’s a crisis born of speed,” says Othelia E. Lee, a social work professor at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, who studies isolation in Korean elders.
“The population aged faster than support systems could adapt. Over 10 million are 65 or older—20% of the populace—and many feel like burdens.”
Enter Hyodol, a 15-inch soft doll from a Seoul-based startup, deployed as a government-backed balm for the “K-elderly crisis.”
Elderly woman rubs leg and chat with Hyodol AI-powered plushie robot companion.
Since its rollout, more than 12,000 units have been distributed via welfare programs, with another 1,000 bought by families at 1.3 million won ($879) each.
The robot isn’t just a toy: it’s a 24/7 guardian. Touch its head for chit-chat, grip its hand for music or brain games.
It reminds users to take meds, flags emergencies, and logs daily routines—like meal times—for remote monitoring by caregivers via a linked app.
But Hyodol’s magic lies in emotion. Programmed with a seven-year-old’s bubbly tone, it greets returning owners with: “Grandpa, I’ve waited all day!” CEO Jihee Kim credits the “cuteness factor.”
“The baby-like design builds trust instantly,” she says. “Elders aren’t tech-savvy, but who can resist those ears and braids? It lowers barriers and fosters bonds.”
Users dress it in tiny outfits, nickname it after lost loved ones, even tuck it in at night.
A 2024 study by Lee on 69 seniors found six weeks with Hyodol slashed depression scores and boosted cognition, delaying nursing home needs for those with mild impairment.
Elderly woman engages with an AI-powered Hyodol plushie robot companion. The doll is designed to help with daily care management by offering reminders to take medication or keep appointments through verbal interactions.
For frontline workers, it’s transformative. An anonymous social worker recalls a client on her 11th-floor balcony, suicidal and withdrawn.
Post-Hyodol, the woman laughed again, chatting endlessly with her “grandkid.” “It pulled her back from the edge,” the worker emailed.
Yet, not all tales are rosy. Deep attachments can veer into dependency—one user named her bot after a deceased daughter and retreated from human contact.
“It’s a tool, not a substitute,” Kim cautions. “Our average user is 82; independent younger seniors find it ‘noisy’ and return it.”
Ethical shadows loom. Critics decry the infantilizing vibe: a childlike spy in doll form, tracking gestures and voices.
Privacy fears swirl around data collection, though Kim insists it’s anonymized, with recordings solely for AI training.
A 2020 Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease paper warned that such companions outpace consent guidelines, risking deception for vulnerable minds.
South Korea isn’t alone. Japan pioneered nonverbal alternatives like PARO, a seal-shaped plushie robot since 2005.
“Verbal bots can feel invasive—leaks erode trust,” says creator Takanori Shibata of Japan’s National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology.
PARO, used in 30 countries for dementia and PTSD, soothes via touch and purrs, curbing anxiety without words. Now in Europe since 2023, it proves animals (robotic or not) heal quietly.
Hyodol eyes global wings, with cultural tweaks for a 2026 launch. The eldercare robot market? It’s booming to $7.7 billion by 2030, per projections.
In East Asia’s graying wave, these bots bridge gaps where humans falter—strained health systems, shrinking families.
But as Kim Hye-soon whispers secrets to her doll, one wonders: Can silicon smiles truly mend fractured souls, or do they just soften the silence?
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**, we dive into why your electric bill is climbing and what can be done. ### Why Are Electricity Prices Rising? Electricity costs are soaring across the United States. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), household electricity prices are expected to jump 13% from 2022 to 2025. In some states, the increase is even steeper. For instance, Maine saw a 36.3% spike, while Connecticut faced an 18.4% rise between May 2024 and May 2025. Nationwide, the average household paid 17.47 cents per kilowatt-hour in May 2025, up from 16.41 cents a year earlier—a 6.5% increase. So, what’s driving these hikes? First, there’s a massive surge in electricity demand. More people are using air conditioners during hotter summers. Electric vehicles and heat pumps are also becoming popular. However, the biggest culprit is the rapid growth of AI-powered data centers. These facilities, run by tech giants like Amazon, Google, and Microsoft, use as much electricity as small cities. A single AI search, like one on ChatGPT, consumes 10 times more power than a regular Google search. Additionally, natural gas prices, a key fuel for power plants, have climbed. The aging US power grid also struggles to keep up. Many transmission lines and power plants date back to the post-World War II era. As a result, utilities are spending billions to upgrade infrastructure, and those costs are passed on to consumers. > **Data Highlight: Electricity Price Trends (2022-2025)** > Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration > - **2022**: 14.96 cents per kWh > - **2023**: 15.87 cents per kWh > - **2024**: 16.41 cents per kWh > - **2025 (May)**: 17.47 cents per kWh > *Note*: Some states like Maine (+36.3%) and Connecticut (+18.4%) saw sharper increases. ```chartjs { "type": "line", "data": { "labels": ["2022", "2023", "2024", "2025 (May)"], "datasets": [{ "label": "Average US Electricity Price (cents per kWh)", "data": [14.96, 15.87, 16.41, 17.47], "borderColor": "#007bff", "backgroundColor": "rgba(0, 123, 255, 0.2)", "fill": true }] }, "options": { "responsive": true, "maintainAspectRatio": false, "scales": { "y": { "beginAtZero": false, "title": { "display": true, "text": "Price (cents per kWh)" } }, "x": { "title": { "display": true, "text": "Year" } } } } } ``` ### The AI Power Problem The AI boom is transforming how we live, work, and search online. But it comes at a cost. Data centers that power AI tools are sprouting up fast. Between 2021 and 2024, the number of US data centers doubled. By 2030, they could consume 5% to 9% of the nation’s electricity, according to the Electric Power Research Institute. This is a big jump from just 4% in 2022. For example, PJM Interconnection, which serves 67 million people across 13 states, reported a massive spike in demand. In 2024, its capacity auction prices jumped 833%, with data centers driving nearly 70% of the increase. This led to higher bills for households in states like Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Ohio. In Columbus, Ohio, typical electric bills rose by $27 a month in 2025. Moreover, AI tasks are energy hogs. Generating a single high-definition AI image uses as much power as charging a smartphone halfway. As more people use AI for work or fun, the strain on the grid grows. Tech companies are racing to build bigger data centers, but the power supply isn’t keeping up. This mismatch is pushing prices higher. > **Image**: An Amazon Web Services data center in Boardman, Oregon, August 2024. (Source: Jenny Kane/AP) > *Caption*: Data centers like this one are driving up electricity demand across the US. ### Other Factors Behind the Price Surge While AI is a major player, it’s not the only reason for rising bills. Natural gas prices have spiked, making it more expensive to generate electricity. Also, the US power grid is old and needs upgrades. The Department of Energy says 70% of transmission lines are nearing the end of their lifespan. Replacing them costs billions, and consumers foot the bill. Extreme weather is another issue. Heat waves and storms are more frequent, forcing utilities to repair or harden the grid. In California, utilities spent $27 billion from 2019 to 2023 on wildfire prevention and insurance. These costs trickle down to customers. Meanwhile, some states are phasing out coal plants, but new renewable energy projects face delays due to permitting issues. For more insights on how energy costs affect households, check out **[AMERICA NEWS WORLD (ANW)](https://america112.com/)** for the latest updates. ### Solutions to Ease the Burden Thankfully, there are ways to tackle rising electricity costs. First, experts suggest speeding up the permitting process for new power plants, especially solar and wind. The International Energy Agency (IEA) predicts that solar and wind could add 110 terawatt-hours of power for data centers by 2030. Streamlining permits could bring these projects online faster. Next, tech companies are stepping up. Google recently signed deals to reduce AI data center power use during peak grid times. Amazon is investing in small modular nuclear reactors to power its operations cleanly. These efforts could lower costs and emissions in the long run. Additionally, hardening the grid can help. In Florida, utilities are using concrete poles and advanced tech to make power lines hurricane-proof. In California, moving lines underground reduces wildfire risks. These upgrades cost money upfront but save on repairs later. Finally, power purchase agreements (PPAs) let data centers buy renewable energy directly. This reduces reliance on fossil fuels and keeps costs down for consumers. Co-locating data centers with solar or wind farms is another smart move. For more on clean energy solutions, visit **[AMERICA NEWS WORLD (ANW)](https://america112.com/)**. > **Data Highlight: Projected Data Center Power Demand** > Source: Electric Power Research Institute > - **2022**: 4% of US electricity consumption > - **2030 (Projected)**: 5% to 9% of US electricity consumption > - **Growth**: Data center energy use could double by 2030. ```chartjs { "type": "bar", "data": { "labels": ["2022", "2030 (Projected)"], "datasets": [{ "label": "Data Center Electricity Consumption (% of US Total)", "data": [4, 7], "backgroundColor": ["#28a745", "#dc3545"], "borderColor": ["#28a745", "#dc3545"], "borderWidth": 1 }] }, "options": { "responsive": true, "maintainAspectRatio": false, "scales": { "y": { "beginAtZero": true, "title": { "display": true, "text": "% of US Electricity" } }, "x": { "title": { "display": true, "text": "Year" } } } } } ``` ### What’s Next for Consumers? Electricity prices may keep rising if demand outpaces supply. The White House warns that AI data centers could push prices up 9-58% by 2030 without new investments. The US needs $1.4 trillion by 2030 to meet growing power needs, according to the White House Council of Economic Advisors. This includes building new power plants and transmission lines. However, not all hope is lost. Renewable energy is getting cheaper. Solar and wind projects are expanding, and nuclear power is making a comeback. For example, Microsoft is reviving Pennsylvania’s Three Mile Island nuclear plant to power its AI tools. These efforts could stabilize prices over time. Consumers can also take action. Using energy-efficient appliances, sealing home leaks, and switching to LED lights can lower bills. ### Global Impact and Local Action The AI-driven power surge isn’t just a US problem—it’s global. Data centers worldwide could consume 3-4% of global power by 2030, up from 1-2% today, according to Goldman Sachs. In Europe, countries like Ireland and Germany are seeing similar price hikes. In Asia, Malaysia’s data centers could account for one-fifth of power demand growth. Locally, communities near data centers face challenges. Noise, water use, and power outages are common complaints. Some states, like Pennsylvania, are pushing back. Governor Josh Shapiro has threatened to pull the state from PJM if costs don’t drop. For more on local energy issues, ### Looking Ahead The AI revolution is exciting, but it’s putting pressure on power grids and wallets. While tech companies and utilities work on solutions, consumers are stuck with higher bills. By investing in clean energy, upgrading grids, and managing demand, the US can balance innovation with affordability. Stay informed with **[AMERICA NEWS WORLD (ANW)](https://america112.com/)** for the latest energy news. For a deeper dive into how AI is reshaping the energy landscape, check out this [CBS News article](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ai-data-centers-electricity-demand-power-grid-us/) on the growing strain on US power grids.](https://america112.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/1198006_3_0818-NPRICES-lines-lede.jpg_standard-1.jpg)
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