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How a student-led nonprofit brought AI technology to Mercer Island seniors
Published 1:30 pm Friday, May 29, 2026
Special to the Reporter
SeBoost (Senior Boosters) hosted a community demonstration of an AI companion robot called ElliQ, designed for older adults, at the Mercer Island Library on May 27.
SeBoost is a student-led nonprofit dedicated to supporting older adults through technology, community and wellness. The event was led by Ina Song, president of SeBoost, and Chris Lee, director of D2C Growth Marketing at Intuition Robotics, offering attendees a direct, hands-on look at how emerging technology may shape daily life for seniors.
SeBoost officers Song, Leilani Walker, Andrew Fateev and Derek Weiss supported the event and documented the demonstration. Song opened the session by introducing SeBoost’s mission and its ongoing work with older adults in the community.
Throughout the evening, attendees were able to approach ElliQ up close, ask questions directly and explore its capabilities for themselves. Rather than simply watching a presentation, they engaged in conversations with the robot and experienced its responses firsthand. A request for a joke drew genuine laughter. When an attendee mentioned a story she had come across online about a user who took selfies with the robot after visiting Rome together, Lee used the moment to walk the group through the virtual coffee experience firsthand — ElliQ set the scene and suggested they enjoy a macchiato together, guiding the group through a shared experience. When one attendee gently touched the robot, it responded by lowering its head as its screen flushed pink and displayed a heart — an interaction that felt unexpectedly human. These small moments made the technology feel less abstract and more tangible.
For SeBoost, the goal was not to present AI as a solution, but to create space for people to engage with it directly. As people age, questions around social connection, daily routines and digital access become increasingly relevant. Technologies like ElliQ do not replace human relationships, but they raise important questions about how support, companionship and independence might be re-imagined.
The demonstration also reflected SeBoost’s broader work. Through its Senior Tech Support program, the organization regularly helps older adults navigate phones, email, patient portals and online systems. These experiences have shown that technology is most effective when it is accessible, understandable and introduced with trust. The AI companion robot ElliQ demonstration extended that idea — suggesting that the role of technology may go beyond utility to include emotional and social dimensions. Beyond technology, SeBoost is also launching biweekly dance and movement classes for seniors this summer, expanding its reach into wellness and social connections.
As AI continues to evolve, its role in the lives of older adults will likely grow. How it is designed and used will matter as much as what it can do, particularly when it comes to privacy, usability and meeting people where they are.
SeBoost will continue to create opportunities for the community to explore new technologies, ask questions and form their own perspectives. For those who missed it, there may be another opportunity — with library support and the same group of dedicated SeBoosters, ElliQ may return in the future.
