AI-Powered Social Robots for Addressing Loneliness: A Systematic Review Protocol

Loneliness is a significant public health concern that affects millions of people worldwide, particularly older adults. With advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics, researchers are exploring the potential of AI-driven social robots as a means to alleviate loneliness and provide companionship. This systematic review protocol aims to identify, evaluate, and synthesize existing literature on the effectiveness of AI-driven social robots in combating loneliness among older adults. The review will follow the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and search multiple electronic databases from their inception to June 2025, including PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, CINAHL, MEDLINE, The Cochrane Library, PsycINFO, and Scopus. Eligible studies will be those that involve AI-driven social robots designed to alleviate loneliness in older adults, with outcomes related to loneliness, social isolation, or quality of life. Two reviewers will independently screen studies using Covidence software, extract data, and assess the risk of bias using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool. A narrative synthesis of the findings will be conducted, with meta-analysis performed if the data allows. This review will provide valuable insights into the current state of research on AI-driven social robots for combating loneliness and guide future research and development in this area.