Pete Middleton, who lives with his wife in Northamptonshire, UK, has long been an early adopter of the technology.

While in the Royal Air Force in the 1980s, he became interested in computing and learned several programming languages.

In recent years he has been excited about the rise of AI, which he uses to edit photos, translate text messages, and for research.

Overall, Mr. Middleton is having a busy retirement. In addition to his hobbies and his dementia blog, he is a lived-experience advisor, committee member, and volunteer with the Alzheimer’s Society.

Since being diagnosed with dementia five years ago, at age 65, he has noticed changes in his short-term memory. For example, “I can still write apps for mobile phones, but I can’t remember where I put my telephone.”

Mr Middleton believes AI can help bridge this gap.

“If people incorporate the benefits of using AI into their lives, it will be good for their self-esteem and self-respect, and it will keep them independent for longer. And if it does that, it will keep them free from the NHS system.” And out of care homes.”

Many AI-based tools offer to help people with dementia with their daily routines.

One is Simon, an app that uses geo-tracking and machine learning to determine a user’s specific needs and provide notifications that can help.

“For example, this could include reminding individuals of the PIN when the app detects they are in a bank,” says Fiona Carragher, director of research and impact at the Alzheimer’s Society. Simon is currently being beta tested.

A long-running program in this domain is the Florence Project. The Florence Project seeks to develop useful communication technology for people with dementia.

“We’re looking at this issue of keeping communication strong – so, not replacing communication between family and carers and people with dementia,” says Janet Wills, professor of human-centred computing at the University of Queensland, Australia. , but are rather supporting it.” ,

Professor Wills, whose own mother suffers from dementia, is part of the team working on the Florence Project.

The team is keen to keep their products from ending up in drawers of unused, overly complex equipment.

Therefore, it includes a Lived Experience Expert Panel, made up of people living with dementia and the people who help care for them.

The project has developed three tools – a diary, a music player and a digital photo screen. These are easy-to-use, single-function devices that contain physical elements such as knobs or buttons, which also integrate the preferences of living experience experts.

The contents of the devices can be adjusted locally or remotely. For example, a relative who lives in another part of the country can update the playlist on the music player, if the person with dementia gives permission.

AI helps personalize these devices. A knowledge bank is created for each person, based on their answers to questions or their conversations. Before the information is fed to the devices, the audio is transcribed and, in some cases, translated.

For example, the diary device might display a photo of a new part-time caregiver next to their arrival time.

Requirements and preferences may change according to their situation. So, for example, information in a diary can be simplified to match the user’s needs.

The team was keen not to rush the development process – the project has been underway for almost a decade, and is now in the testing phase of its prototype.

“The negative effects of technology are often worse for people with dementia than for other people,” cautions Professor Wills.

She emphasizes that data privacy and security is especially important for people living with dementia.

AI-based chatbots are also being integrated into companion robots. Hiro-chan is a faceless, huggable, soft therapy robot; Researchers believe that interacting with Hiro-chan reduces stress in people suffering from dementia.

They are now working on integrating ChatGPIT into robots with speakers and microphones. Total weight will be less than 800 grams.

“In early tests with people with dementia living in care homes, we found that simpler communication than we expected would be more attractive to more of them,” says roboticist Hidenobu Sumioka of the Advanced Telecommunications Research Institute International in Kyoto.

However, “It is important that AI does not replace the human interaction that is so important in dementia care,” says Ms Carragher. “Instead, it should be used to enhance care in a way that is beneficial to people with dementia and their carers.”

Dennis Frost, a retired programmer who served on the Florence Project’s Living Experience Expert Panel, explains that social connection is very important for people living with dementia.

“I would suggest that increasing human interactions should be a priority than increasing AI interactions. After all, would an AI really care whether I live or die?”

Mr Middleton sees huge potential in AI, but stresses that any technology created for people with dementia must be adaptable to a wide variety of people.

“No two people with dementia are alike,” says Mr Middleton. “What works for me might not work for my next-door neighbor who has dementia.”

“So developers have to be very careful when they’re developing products, not only to target the dementia community in general, but to look for specific stages of dementia and match what they do with the individual’s ability Try.”