Latest blog post
Granny and the Robots – Part 1: The unstoppable rise of conversational AI and the risks to older and vulnerable people
At Alertacall one of our core values is to give older and vulnerable people the opportunity to have genuine human contact each day.
This is founded on the fact that social interaction is a fundamental human need. Our team is a friendly voice on the end of the phone (or video call) for thousands of otherwise lonely people, even if on the face of it we’re simply helping social landlords run their services more efficiently, or other health and social care organisations reduce hospital readmissions or socially prescribe.
Recently, I have been asked to sit on a board or work as an adviser for more than one enterprise involved in developing AI to have conversations with older people. They intend to deploy this technology to potentially replace the kind of genuine human contact currently provided by flesh and blood people.
As suspicious as I am of this trend, I fear it is a market which will begin to be exploited imminently, with ‘exploit’ being the operative word unless people like me – and maybe people like you – get involved with it to help shape it into something positive.
Hello, I’m James Batchelor MBE
Expert on technology, entrepreneurship and digitisation for the ageing population - campaigner to Prevent Undiscovered Deaths - and inventor of the 'I am okay' button
My name is James Batchelor and every day I strive to discover new ways to use Technology, Leadership and Change to help organisations grow and also make the world a better place too.
I want everybody to understand this potential. That’s why I work as a mentor for other founders, entrepreneurs and passionate people. And, that’s why I am sharing my own insights and those of other brilliant people with you here.
I make regular speaker appearances, talking about themes including entrepreneurship, being a founder and the use of technology to help older and vulnerable people. I am also available to take part in media and expert-panel interviews on these subjects.
In 2004 I invented the ‘I am okay’ button (which we have evolved in to OKEachDay®) and various other processes to improve contact for older and higher needs people. This along with imitations inspired by it, has gone on to protect and improve contact for hundreds of thousands of people all over the UK and beyond.
I am also the founder of Alertacall – a ‘Queen’s Award’ winning company that helps tens of thousands of people feel safe, connected and informed whilst also combating loneliness and isolation.
I have also worked with a number of charities, including as Trustee of The Silver Line; a British charity helpline for older people founded by Dame Esther Rantzen.
In 2025 I was honoured to be made MBE by King Charles on behalf of the UK Government for ‘Services to Technology For Older People’.
My work and my life has one simple philosophy: Live Well, Give Back.
