AI가 24시간 돌보는 스마트홈 구축…11월부터 독거노인 400가구 시범사업

The government plans to launch a smart home pilot program in November, utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) to monitor elderly individuals requiring care. The Ministry of Health and Welfare announced this initiative during a National Council meeting on the 6th. This 'Care and Welfare AI Transformation Roadmap' aims to address the increasing demand for care as the population ages and establish a sustainable care system through AI technology.

The 2024 budget allocation for this program has been increased from 256 billion won to 691 billion won, a sevenfold expansion. Funds will be allocated to research and development (145 billion won), deployment of caregiving robots and data collection (377 billion won). The program will later expand to target individuals with disabilities and services will be provided in community centers such as welfare offices and nursing homes.

In these facilities, AI will handle routine and repetitive tasks, such as document preparation, while caregiving robots will support labor-intensive tasks. Smart beds and fall detection sensors will monitor the condition of care recipients, enabling immediate response to any abnormalities. The government plans to establish an 'AI Ethics Guidelines' to address issues related to AI usage, data linkage, and user rights.

To systematically implement the AI and care policy, a policy coordination body comprising the government, experts, businesses, and stakeholders will be formed. AI technology will streamline the care service application process. Starting next year, personalized care services will be provided through generative AI, and by 2029, services will be available from AI consultations to care service application.

Minister of Health and Welfare, Jeon Eun-kyung, emphasized the growing importance of AI in addressing the care labor shortage, stating that the goal is to enhance the sustainability of care and the value of caregiving labor through AI technology.