Making AI Companions Responsible

Research Project, 2022 – 2023

There is an emerging trend in developing so called companion products in digital, physical, and mixed formats for different user groups including, but not limited to, young people and elderly. Examples include virtual avatars or robots that utilize AI to mimic human behaviour to approximate relationships and empathy. Some of these products claim certain mental health benefits. Like what has been experienced with earlier digital trends such as using mobile apps in health, many of these products neither have been developed based on a human centred approach nor provide efficacy evidence. Since AI companions are still in their early adaptation phase, it is time to act and address human centred design and evidence-based efficacy in their design, as well as AI-specific design principles linked to the recent responsible AI discourse.

The scope of the one-year project will be understanding design requirements and developing a concept of a responsible and human centred AI companion for improving coping skills. The main activities during the project include multidisciplinary workshops, user studies, concept development and concept evaluation.