# Towards Designing a ChatGPT Conversational Companion for Elderly People

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2304.09866 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2304.09866/

## Key facts

- Cited by 13 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- Builds on 4 of its 21 references that are in the map.
- First posted on arXiv 18 Apr 2023.

## Builds on (most cited first, 4 of 4)

- [RealToxicityPrompts: Evaluating Neural Toxic Degeneration in Language Models](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2009.11462/) (2020)
- [What makes a good conversation? How controllable attributes affect human judgments](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1902.08654/) (2019)
- [The AI Teacher Test: Measuring the Pedagogical Ability of Blender and GPT-3 in Educational Dialogues](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2205.07540/) (2022)
- [A Conversational Interface to Improve Medication Adherence: Towards AI Support in Patient's Treatment](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1803.09844/) (2018)

## Built on by (most cited first, 13 of 13)

- [SMILE: Single-turn to Multi-turn Inclusive Language Expansion via ChatGPT for Mental Health Support](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2305.00450/) (2023)
- [Large Language Model for Mental Health: A Systematic Review](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2403.15401/) (2024)
- [Vibe Check: Understanding the Effects of LLM-Based Conversational Agents' Personality and Alignment on User Perceptions in Goal-Oriented Tasks](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2509.09870/) (2025)
- [Exploring Large Language Models to Facilitate Variable Autonomy for Human-Robot Teaming](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2312.07214/) (2023)
- ["We need to avail ourselves of GenAI to enhance knowledge distribution": Empowering Older Adults through GenAI Literacy](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2506.06225/) (2025)
- [If Eleanor Rigby Had Met ChatGPT: A Study on Loneliness in a Post-LLM World](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2412.01617/) (2024)
- [Conversational Agents for Older Adults' Health: A Systematic Literature Review](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2503.23153/) (2025)
- [The Role of Generative AI in Facilitating Social Interactions: A Scoping Review](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2506.10927/) (2025)
- [AI Does Not Alter Perceptions of Text Messages](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2402.01726/) (2024)
- [Leveraging Large Language Models through Natural Language Processing to provide interpretable Machine Learning predictions of mental deterioration in real time](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2409.03375/) (2024)
- [Exploring the Effect of Robotic Embodiment and Empathetic Tone of LLMs on Empathy Elicitation](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2503.20518/) (2025)
- ["She was useful, but a bit too optimistic": Augmenting Design with Interactive Virtual Personas](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2508.19463/) (2025)
- [A Goal-Oriented Chatbot for Engaging the Elderly Through Family Photo Conversations](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2604.06184/) (2026)

## Abstract (arXiv)

Loneliness and social isolation are serious and widespread problems among older people, affecting their physical and mental health, quality of life, and longevity. In this paper, we propose a ChatGPT-based conversational companion system for elderly people. The system is designed to provide companionship and help reduce feelings of loneliness and social isolation. The system was evaluated with a preliminary study. The results showed that the system was able to generate responses that were relevant to the created elderly personas. However, it is essential to acknowledge the limitations of ChatGPT, such as potential biases and misinformation, and to consider the ethical implications of using AI-based companionship for the elderly, including privacy concerns.