ESTsoft (CEO Chung Sang-won), a company specializing in artificial intelligence services, announced on the 27th that it has produced 'AI Makoto', a conversational AI human modeled on Japanese star actor Makoto Nonomura, and is beginning a senior care demonstration project using it.
Ten specialist companies across care, education, content and other fields are taking part in producing AI Makoto and running the demonstration, including ESTsoft, LLM application service company Spiral.AI — with which ESTsoft signed a memorandum of understanding to enter Japan's senior care market — and Makoto Nonomura's agency Stardust Promotion. ESTsoft and Spiral.AI are responsible for the AI technology.
The project was created to address, through AI humans, the staffing shortages in nursing and residential care facilities for older people that arise in Japan's aging society — using AI humans to help improve older adults' cognitive function and raise satisfaction with related services.
Makoto Nonomura, a Japanese star actor who appears on many television programs and is familiar to older audiences, was chosen as the model for the demonstration — in the same vein as ESTsoft's use of singer Tae Jin-Ah's IP for its senior care business in Korea.
The demonstration focuses on the use of AI humans within care facilities for senior care, with commercialization targeted for 2025. ESTsoft is solely responsible for producing the AI human, the core of the demonstration. It has completed an initial model of AI Makoto and is preparing the further work required for use in the field.
On the collaboration, Byun Kye-pung, Executive Director of ESTsoft's AI Business Division, explained: "There is very strong interest in the AI human business model we have expanded while proving its usefulness in Korea's senior care market," adding, "We plan to collaborate actively toward commercialization in Japan."
AI Makoto will be developed further into a conversational AI human optimized for one-to-one conversation and group recreation. To deliver a service tailored to senior care, it will also carry a range of features such as conversation paced for older users and dialogue displayed as subtitles as well as spoken.
Japanese actor Makoto Nonomura shared his thoughts on taking part: "I am glad to be able to greet, as an AI human, the grandmothers and grandfathers who cheer me on when I am on television. Please think of AI Makoto as a son who has many stories to tell," adding, "I hope this project helps the senior care industry develop."
ESTsoft CEO Chung Sang-won said: "This demonstration puts entry into Japan's senior care market — about six times the size of Korea's — within sight, and we will deliver results," adding, "We will keep making full use of the global network we have been building to pursue overseas markets more aggressively."
ESTsoft holds singer Tae Jin-Ah's IP and provides AI human services to Korea's senior care market. Earlier this year it opened 36 smart senior centers equipped with AI humans together with Gimhae City