Digital Companion: AI is redefining how we approach social support
Could AI-powered chatbots become a meaningful way to combat loneliness among older generations? Dr. Guang Lu is committed to finding out. Together with a team of Applied Data Science students from HSLU have developed an extraordinary AI chatbot.
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Dr. Guang Lu, lecturer of the MSc in Applied Information and Data Science at the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts.
Dr. Mirjam Stieger, lecturer of the MSc in Applied Information and Data Science at the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts.
Richard Moist, lecturer of the MSc in Applied Information and Data Science at the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts.
Dr. Martin Biallas, lecturer of the MSc in Applied Information and Data Science at the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts [no picture].
AI as a Digital Companion for Emotional Support
The AI chatbot possess the unique ability to combine rule-based, retrieval-based, and generative responses, selecting the most suitable one for each interaction. This innovation allows the chatbot to tailor its responses based on the older person’s context and emotional state, offering both pre-defined comforting phrases and dynamically generated empathetic messages through advanced NLP models.
From Pandemic Isolation to Digital Connection: The Evolution of an AI-Powered Chatbot
Dr. Guang Lu conceived this idea during the pandemic, witnessing the isolation many older individuals faced. Inspired to create a digital AI companion to alleviate loneliness, the team collaborated with local organizations such as Viva Luzern, Spitex Kriens, and Luzern60Plus. These groups played an integral role in shaping the chatbot’s design through co-creation workshops, ensuring that the final product met the specific needs of older users.
Developing the AI chatbot was a team effort, beginning with an in-depth analysis of user requirements. The team then worked through multiple iterations of system architecture, incorporating feedback from older adults and their caregivers. Their goal is to refine the chatbot into a fully-fledged AI-powered digital companion with expanded functionality. To achieve this, they are now seeking additional funding from the Velux Foundation and Innosuisse.
We would like to thank Dr. Guang Lu, Dr. Mirjam Stieger, Richard Moist and Dr. Martin Biallas for sharing their fascinating project!
Health Science x Data Science Series
This article is part of our “Health Science x Data Science” series, where we explore how data-driven innovation is transforming healthcare.
Learn more about the initiative on our project page: Health Science x Data Science
Check out the other articles in the series:
- #1 Painless Glucose Monitoring: How AI transforms Diabetes Care
- #2 Smart Reha: Entering a New Era of Stroke Recovery with AI
- #3 Digital Companion: AI is redefining how we approach social support (this article)
Data is the resource of the 21st century!
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