Rethinking elder care in the age of AI
In this talk given at Quebec City's Rendez-vous numérique, our co-founder Tony Aubé reflects on how Amical came to be, the work carried out alongside people living with Alzheimer's, and the ethical questions raised by AI entering the world of care.
This video is available in French only.
Our story
It all started with a grandmother
Amical was born from a personal story.
Our co-founder Tony Aubé spent ten years in Silicon Valley, mostly at Google, designing voice assistants. In 2024, he came back to Quebec wanting to work on something useful, close to the realities on the ground.
His grandmother was living with Alzheimer's in a long-term care home in Quebec City. She had an extraordinarily present family: with five children, she received a visit every day of the week. And yet she would tell her daughter she felt alone all the time.
Because of the disease, she forgot visits within minutes of someone leaving. When a loved one was on their way out, she would say: "You can't leave, you've only just arrived."
That observation gave us the idea of a companion that could be present 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, a companion that wouldn't tire, would never leave, and could respond at any moment of the day or night.
Tony in the field
Volunteering with Les Petits Frères
Our president, Tony Aubé, volunteers every month with Les Petits Frères, an organization that breaks the isolation of older adults nearing end of life. Visits, gift deliveries for Valentine's Day and Easter, "comfort" calls to people who no longer have loved ones.
This work on the ground feeds our understanding of residents, families and care aides. It continues to inspire how the product evolves.
Our Team
Tony Aubé
President, Product and Marketing
François-Xavier Ratté
Sales and Operations
Yoann Vanitou
CTO & Tech Lead
Sébastien Dufour
Director of Business Development
Valérie Mercier
Administrative Coordinator
Scientific research
An ongoing clinical study with Université Laval
Amical is the subject of a twelve-month scientific study conducted with Université Laval, at the Maison des Aînés de Sainte-Foy and Groupe Santé Arbec. The study objectively measures Amical's impact on loneliness, anxiety and medication use among residents living with cognitive impairment.
The study is run as part of the Réseau d'évaluation de l'innovation en santé durable (REISD) at Université Laval, and financially supported by the Canadian Centre for Aging and Brain Health Innovation (CABHI).
Our expert committee
A committee of geriatricians, psychologists and occupational therapists reviews the most sensitive conversations and helps us continuously improve the product. Dr Félix Pageau, geriatrician and member of Quebec's medical assistance in dying decision-making council, takes an active part in it.
Recognition
Awards and distinctions
Amical has been recognized through several distinctions across Quebec and Canada.
Supported By
Invented in Quebec
A unique, innovative invention, proudly from Quebec
Amical is a Quebec innovation. To our knowledge, it is the first conversational generative-AI solution designed specifically for people living with cognitive impairment and deployed at this scale in North America.
The product is designed, hosted and operated in Quebec. Our team is based in Quebec City. Our servers are in Montreal. Our first deployments took place in Quebec residences.
This technology is meant for a population otherwise left behind by large tech companies. Over the next two years, we plan a gradual rollout to Canada, the United States and Europe.
