W
elcome to the TechCrunch Trade, a weekly startups-and-markets publication. It’s impressed by the day by day TechCrunch+ column the place it will get its identify. Need it in your inbox each Saturday? Join right here.
Within the period of fast judgments, it’s tempting to assume we’re extra intelligent than anybody else. However from AI to Apple to senior tech, underestimating others comes at a threat: being severely mistaken. — Anna
Don’t underestimate your granny
When the U.S. surgeon basic’s advisory referred to as out “our epidemic of loneliness and isolation,” heads instantly turned to social media and its dangers for kids and teenagers.
I can solely agree with Dr. Vivek Murthy that social connection and neighborhood have therapeutic results, however I’m on the fence on the place expertise stands. Positive, it might probably make us extra remoted, however it might probably additionally join us.
Dor Skuler, a founder I met not too long ago, thinks that age makes a distinction. “Whereas the surgeon basic warns expertise is a contributing issue for teen loneliness, the report and our knowledge exhibits the other holds true for older adults,” he mentioned.
Skuler is referring to the insights gathered by his firm, Instinct Robotics. He has a horse within the race: Its flagship product is ElliQ, an AI companion aiming to realize “more healthy, happier ageing.” However he additionally has knowledge: After years in beta testing, ElliQ is being distributed to American seniors by means of a number of state ageing businesses.