China advances AI, robotics in elderly care services

China is at the forefront of integrating artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics into elderly care services, pioneering groundbreaking solutions to address the challenges of an aging population.

The latest data shows that by the end of 2024, China's population aged 60 and above reached 310 million, accounting for roughly 22 percent of its total population.

Elderly-care robots, once a distant concept, are quickly becoming a reality for China's aging population. Although elderly-care robots are still in their infancy compared to industrial robots, some users have already begun to experience the convenience they offer. At a nursing home in Qingdao City, east China's Shandong Province, a robot named Kangkang can chat with the elderly, tell jokes, report the weather, play music, and even pick up medicine from nurse station, deliver newspapers, or remind the caregivers that the elderly have needs.

"They have brought more happiness to us. I feel very good, as we don't feel lonely in the nursing home anymore," said Hu Yuling, a senior at the local social welfare center.

"Robots are new to seniors. These interactive robots can play music and chat with the seniors. They can also help semi-disabled elderly people to stand and walk," said Qin Nan, director of nursing at the social welfare center.

At a nursing home in south China's Shenzhen, robots are now an integral part of daily life, playing chess with seniors, offering AI-assisted moxibustion therapy, and providing enhanced mobility assistance.

In Wuxi City, east China's Jiangsu Province, robots of a local company can not only chat and interact with the elderly, but also automatically make ward rounds at fixed times to remind caregivers to turn the elderly over and give them medicine.

In addition, if it is found that an elderly person has been away from the bed for a long time or has not responded after repeated calls, robots will immediately send a warning message to medical staff.

"This robot is equipped with a vital sign monitoring system, as well as a device for patient positioning and safety alerts for medical staff," said Guo Shuanghai, deputy head of a nursing home in Wuxi. The company has developed over 100 applications for four major scenarios, namely home services, intelligent social interaction, home security, and elderly people living alone.

"It features companionship and protection as it can monitor your living conditions in real time. If there is something wrong, the robot will call the police itself, without the need for the elderly to call it for help. Some people may think that it is not smart enough now, and what we need to overcome in the future is to make it smart. The robot needs to understand the seniors' living habits, including their state, and then it will make judgments through these states," said Ran Chenglong, person in charge of the company.

China advances AI, robotics in elderly care services

A former television host from Taiwan, Zhai Xuan, has made a pivotal decision to leave mainstream broadcasting in order to create content that provides a better understanding of the Chinese mainland and cross-strait relations.

Zhai, a seasoned television host with over a decade of experience in Taiwan's media landscape, recently addressed an audience at an event in Beijing, where she revealed her complete transition into independent online media.

In her remarks, she articulated her aspiration to bridge what she perceives as a significant information gap between audiences on both sides of the Strait, highlighting her commitment to fostering a deeper understanding and connection through her new endeavors.

"I was really surprised by all the fake news. There were stories saying people on the mainland can't afford tea eggs or that they live in mud houses and in Taiwan, this was the main information many people received," said Zhai.

Zhai said she initially began producing online videos to challenge such perceptions while continuing her work as a television host.

In April 2025, she travelled to the mainland with her father to fulfill her late grandfather's wish to return to his hometown. The trip, which reunited family members separated since 1949, was recorded in a video series titled "Journey to Find Our Roots", drawing attention from viewers in both Taiwan and the mainland.

"Many people in Taiwan told me that after watching, they wanted to apply for a mainland travel permit immediately and go looking for their relatives. Some had long forgotten these things, but after seeing my story, they began thinking about their hometowns and family members they had never met and decided to search for their roots," Zhai shared her story at the event.

By mid-2025, Zhai said she began to feel increasing pressure amid rising political tensions and a tightening atmosphere around cross-Strait exchanges in Taiwan.

After more than 12 years in the industry, Zhai resigned from her position, believing it was the right thing to do.

"At that moment, I felt this was a major issue，not just for me, but for Chinese people on both sides of the Strait. If I backed down then, I wouldn’t be standing on the right side," said Zhai.

Since leaving television, Zhai has broadened her online programming to encompass a range of daily-life topics, including practical guidance on applying for a mainland travel permit and using commonly employed mobile applications, in addition to content that delves into historical memory and cultural connections across the Strait.

As the debate over cross-Strait relations continues in Taiwan, Zhai said she remains committed to her current path.

Former Taiwan TV host bridges cross-Strait divide via online media