A Queens woman credits an AI-powered device with saving her life after she fainted in her apartment in Corona.
On Abc7ny Eyewitness News, 75-year-old Sungja Lee shared her experience with the device, which she received for free from New York State.
Lee, who leads an active lifestyle, collapsed while getting out of bed in May. Feeling dizzy and losing her strength, she was able to call out to her AI device for assistance. “Save me,” she said. “I think I’m dying.”
An ambulance arrived promptly and rushed her to Long Island Jewish Hospital in Forest Hills, where doctors discovered she had suffered a brain hemorrhage that could have resulted in a stroke without immediate treatment.
The AI device, known as NUGU, has become a lifeline for Lee. “AI can be intimidating because of how it’s being used, but this is a perfect example of how it can effectively support and even save lives,” said Assemblymember Ron Kim, chair of the Aging Committee.
Kim secured a $1.2 million state grant to distribute these AI devices at no cost. So far, 500 units have been provided to seniors in Queens through a pilot program, with another 1,000 seniors currently on the waiting list.
NUGU not only reminds users to take their medication but also alerts a human-operated control center if it detects a prolonged silence or lack of check-ins from residents.