The difficulties of contemporary American family life have become so significant that last year, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy issued an official advisory, underscoring the profound impact that parental stress has on mental health and general well-being.
Introducing Umi, a digital coaching resource for family wellness launched by Panasonic Well during the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. Yoky Matsuoka, CEO of Panasonic Well, shared with *Mashable* that Umi is crafted to improve family health through a distinctive range of coaching services.
### Tackling Daily Family Issues
Umi targets parents seeking to establish healthier habits—like enhancing sleep, eating more nutritiously, or dedicating quality time to family—who find it challenging to create and execute effective strategies. Scheduled for a launch later this year, Umi employs conversational AI to deliver personalized suggestions tailored to users’ individual situations. It also links users to resources from partners such as the meditation app Calm and the health coaching platform YourCoach.
The AI assistant aids users in setting “achievable” goals, crafting daily schedules, and monitoring progress with quantifiable metrics. “Our aim was to cultivate healthy habits through behavior modification, link those habits, and transform them into routines,” Matsuoka stated.
For example, a parent coping with a child’s picky eating tendencies could ask Umi for advice. The AI may propose introducing a new food once monthly as part of a feasible plan.
### Support Across Generations
Umi is constructed to assist not only parents but entire families, including older relatives. For instance, a parent looking after an elderly family member could utilize Umi to manage schedules, find healthcare options, or tackle caregiver fatigue. Aging parents can also engage with Umi to meet their personal needs.
However, Umi is not a substitute for medical advice. In cases that necessitate professional help, such as a child’s mental health emergency, Umi will recommend users seek immediate treatment and provide access to pertinent medical or crisis resources. The platform features a safety mechanism to identify and flag violent language.
### More Than Just a Personal Assistant
Although Umi can take care of tasks related to wellness objectives, it is not a digital personal assistant. For such functionalities, Panasonic’s Well division has Yohana, another product designed to manage responsibilities like hiring a handyman, ordering costumes, or finding hotels.
Matsuoka, who also supervises Yohana, highlighted her aim of reducing parental overwhelm. The name “Umi,” which translates to “sea” in Japanese, was selected for its connotation of tranquility and equilibrium.
### Ethical AI and Protection of Data
Umi utilizes various large language models (LLMs) for its AI capabilities, notably collaborating with Anthropic. Matsuoka commended Anthropic’s ethical stance on AI and its proficiency in executing Umi’s primary functions.
While Umi gathers important data concerning families’ routines, preferences, and interests—including input from teens and younger users who have parental consent—Matsuoka assured that this information will not be sold to external parties. Furthermore, Umi is not cultivated on real user data but rather on synthetic data modeled after user interactions.
### Launch and Accessibility
Umi is scheduled for a public launch in mid-2025, initially available as a mobile application, with a desktop version to follow. Pricing specifics have yet to be revealed, but Matsuoka stressed that the product will be competitively priced to ensure accessibility for a wide range of families. “This issue affects all families, not just those with wealth,” she remarked.
By concentrating on nurturing healthier habits and alleviating stress, Umi aspires to be a revolutionary resource for families navigating the challenges of modern living.