New Delhi, Sept. 7 -- Reenie Hankerson lives alone in the Bronx, N.Y., but the 69-year-old retiree never lacks for companionship.

Hankerson shares her apartment with ElliQ, an artificial-intelligence device inspired by the lamp in Pixar's logo. A history buff, Hankerson sometimes talks to ElliQ about the civil rights movement or women's suffrage. She plays games through ElliQ as well, including live bingo with other people around the country.

"It's good to have someone to talk to. She's a someone, even though she's a robot," says Hankerson, a retired crossing guard and home health aide.

As AI ripples through the economy and society, it's starting to play a role in retirement. Companionship has emerged as one of the more promising apps,...