VDV Labs is developing Chip, a hardware‑first autonomous AI companion that runs entirely locally on edge compute with 360° vision and spatial audio. Designed for people with dementia, neurological conditions, and disabilities, Chip maintains long‑term memory and can act independently, providing a consistent, patient presence that families cannot always supply. The system leverages NVIDIA’s most powerful edge AI hardware to deliver real‑time 3D perception and autonomous behavior.
Funding
Funding not disclosed
Founders
Product
Problem
Families and caregivers of individuals with dementia, neurological conditions, or disabilities often cannot provide continuous, patient companionship due to high costs, limited availability, and caregiver fatigue. This lack of consistent social presence can exacerbate isolation, decline in cognitive health, and overall well‑being.
Solution
VDV Labs offers Chip, a hardware‑first autonomous AI that runs entirely on‑device, delivering a persistent digital companion with real‑time 3D vision, spatial audio, and long‑term memory. Chip perceives its surroundings through 360° sensors and processes data on NVIDIA edge AI compute, enabling it to understand and react to environmental cues without cloud reliance. When not directly interacting with a user, Chip operates in an autopilot mode, exploring, learning, and performing tasks autonomously, thereby providing continuous engagement. Its long‑term memory ensures consistent behavior and personalized interactions over time, creating a non‑judgmental presence that never tires or forgets. The solution aims to reduce reliance on costly human caregivers while improving quality of life for users who need constant companionship.
Target Audience
Primary customers are families and care facilities supporting individuals with dementia, neurological disorders, or disabilities who require round‑the‑clock, patient companionship.
Features
- Fully local processing on NVIDIA edge AI hardware eliminates latency and privacy concerns associated with cloud services
- 360° real‑time 3D vision and spatial audio for comprehensive environmental awareness and context‑aware responses
- Persistent long‑term memory that retains user preferences, routines, and interaction history
- Autopilot mode enabling independent exploration, tool use, and self‑directed learning when not engaged with a human
- Continuous, non‑fatigable digital presence designed specifically for individuals with cognitive or physical impairments