''Liv' the AI avatar wants people with dementia to not feel alone'

“Hello there. My name is Liv.”

This artificial intelligence-powered avatar was developed to offer a lifeline for people living with Alzheimer’s and dementia.

Liv is built on the real-life experiences and wisdom of hundreds of people living with the condition.

The goal is for Liv to offer up assurance and advice, and respond to questions with information drawn directly from first-hand experiences.

“I understand that living with dementia can sometimes feel confusing, but you don't have to navigate it alone.”

An estimated 55 million people worldwide are currently living with dementia.

That number is expected to reach 139 million by 2050, according to British dementia charity, Alzheimer's Society.

It affects cognitive function, impacting memory, thinking, behavior, and the ability to perform everyday tasks.

“The technology is not set out to be a companion or a therapist.”

Steve Milton is a director at Innovations in Dementia, one of the collaborators on the project alongside tech company Lenovo and Exeter University.

:: Steve Milton, Director of Innovations in Dementia CIC

“Liv will talk about, you know, the fact that dementia does bring huge challenges to people's lives, but that all of the evidence from the people who have contributed towards it showed that by making a few changes and adjustments to your life you can continue to live well, you can continue to live with a sense of agency."

Gail Gregory contributed to the project, dubbed 'Alzheimer’s Intelligence.'

When she was 54, she was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's.

She says she hopes the avatar can help.

:: Gail Gregory, Diagnosed with Alzheimer's

"...it's quite a lonely place to be in when you get a diagnosis." // "It's a little unnerving at first, but once you start speaking and get into a routine with it and asking the questions, you get the answers back, which is brilliant." // "We want to stay independent. So by the use of something like this, I'm hoping, fingers crossed, that the AI person will be able to also help us around the home.”

Milton says the avatar is currently a proof-of-concept.

Trials are underway in controlled environments.

The hope is that Liv could contribute to medical understanding and future innovations in dementia care.

Gregory says she hopes the avatar could help people navigate a challenging journey.

“There's very little support out there for people with dementia. So to develop something like an AI person that's going to be there 24-7. So when you have a query or a little worry, you could ask this AI person and you will get an answer. And I think that is quite invaluable really when you think about it.”

https://www.yahoo.com/news/liv-ai-avatar-wants-people-103500998.html