Realbotix has partnered with Bloom Procurement Services to launch a pilot program using socially assistive humanoid robots in elder care settings in Northeast England. The pilot will place Realbotix robots in care environments where they are expected to provide companionship, cognitive stimulation, emotional support and routine wellbeing check-ins for older residents. The program is designed to assess resident engagement, cognitive health indicators, staff feedback and effects on loneliness and quality of life.
Realbotix, which trades on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol XBOT, has been accredited as a supplier in Bloom’s marketplace. The accreditation provides a procurement route for UK public sector organizations seeking to contract with the company. The robots are intended to supplement human caregivers rather than replace them. According to the company, the systems use natural conversation, eye contact, facial expressiveness and personalized interaction to support social engagement.
“Ageing populations and workforce shortages are driving demand for technologies that deliver genuine human connection1,” said Andrew Kiguel, CEO of Realbotix. “Our partnership with Bloom gives us a strategic entry into UK public sector opportunities and advances our mission to deploy embodied AI for meaningful social impact.”
“A core part of Bloom’s mission is connecting public sector organizations with innovative solutions that deliver better outcomes,” said Adam Jacobs, Founder and Executive Director of Bloom Services. “This partnership with Realbotix allows us to thoughtfully evaluate how responsible AI robotics can address loneliness and improve wellbeing for older adults across the UK.”
If the pilot meets its objectives, the companies said the partnership could support wider use of Realbotix’s robotic and AI avatar platform across the UK public sector.
