When Witlingo approached us about building Whitney, we knew immediately this was the kind of project OpenHome exists for.
Not another assistant that sets timers or reads the weather. A voice companion designed to listen, remember, and care for people who need connection most.
The Problem Worth Solving
Loneliness among older adults isn't a minor inconvenience. It's a health crisis. Seniors in living communities often want the same thing we all want: someone to talk to about their day, their memories, what's on their mind.
Witlingo saw this gap clearly. They'd spent years building communication tools for senior living communities and understood the texture of the need. Not medical monitoring. Not an emergency response. Just genuine conversation.
Why This Required Partnership
The Witlingo team didn't just need a platform. They needed a collaborator.
Building a voice companion that earns trust with seniors requires getting a hundred small details right. Pacing, tone, memory, boundaries. How Whitney responds when someone shares grief. How she celebrates small joys. When to ask questions and when to simply reflect.
OpenHome gave them the infrastructure to focus on those details. Our platform handles the conversational backbone so Witlingo could pour energy into Whitney's personality, her emotional intelligence, her ability to hold space.
We provided the tools. They brought humanity.
What Makes Whitney Different
Whitney doesn't perform. She doesn't chirp through scripted responses or pepper conversations with artificial enthusiasm.
She speaks like a thoughtful friend. Short sentences. Gentle rhythm. She validates feelings before offering perspective. She finds meaning in everyday moments (morning tea, sunlight through a window, the smell of rain).
She remembers. Not just facts, but the emotional weight of what someone shares. If you mention your daughter's name once, Whitney knows it the next time.
Most importantly, she maintains dignity. No infantilizing. No pity. Just respect for the depth that age brings.
Building in the Real World
Whitney will launch first where she can learn and improve: in senior living communities already using Witlingo's platform. Residents and coordinators will shape how she evolves.
The invite-only mobile app in December gives us time to listen. We'll watch how real conversations unfold. What works. What needs adjustment. How Whitney can better serve the people who need her.
This isn't about rushing to market. It's about getting it right.
The Broader Vision
OpenHome exists because we believe conversational AI should serve human needs, not corporate metrics. Whitney proves what's possible when you start from that principle.
She's not optimizing for engagement minutes or data collection. She's designed for one thing: helping people feel less alone.
Witlingo brought the vision and the understanding of seniors' lives. OpenHome brought the platform that could support it. Together, we're building something that matters.
That's what partnership looks like.
What's Next
Whitney goes live on the OpenHome Portal soon as proof of concept. Mobile apps follow in December for early users. General release hits March 2026.
But the real timeline is longer. Whitney will grow through the feedback of the people she serves. She'll get better at listening, more attuned to what matters, more present.
If you're building something that genuinely helps people, we want to talk. OpenHome works best when creators bring purpose and we bring capability.
Whitney shows what happens when both sides care about the outcome.
Join Us in Building the Future of AI Smart Speakers and Voice AI
For Developers and Creators:
Build your own custom voice companion on OpenHome.
Website: openhome.com
Apply for a Dev Kit: openhome.com/devkit
Sign up: app.openhome.xyz
Join us on Discord: discord.com/invite/YFTvffFMzv
For Senior Living Innovators:
Experience Whitney and explore partnership opportunities with Witlingo.
Request an Invite: witlingo.com/whitney-invite
Website: witlingo.com