At the recent Lenovo Tech World event, Lenovo introduced a lifelike AI avatar called “Alzheimer’s Intelligence” to help support people living with Alzheimer’s and dementia. Created in partnership with the UK-based non-profit Innovations in Dementia, this 3D avatar provides personalized advice and emotional support based on the real experiences of those with dementia.
Named “Liv,” the avatar interacts through voice commands and uses real insights from people with dementia gathered by Innovations in Dementia’s “Dementia Diaries” project. Liv’s responses feel natural, with facial expressions and a custom voice that matches the tone of each answer, making interactions authentic and relatable.
“There are 55 million people worldwide living with dementia,” said Dr. David Llewellyn, a professor at the University of Exeter. He emphasized that this AI shows how technology can bring people together, offering helpful support for those with dementia.
Lenovo’s Chief Security and AI Officer, Doug Fisher, stated that the avatar is part of Lenovo’s goal of “Smarter AI for All”—technology designed to help everyone, especially those who may not typically have access to advanced tech tools.
Liv was created using images of 10 people with dementia. Advanced AI then crafted her expressions and movements to make her feel more lifelike. This avatar is powered by a large language model (LLM) trained on real-life experiences, helping Liv offer meaningful support.
“This AI is not here to replace human connections,” explained Steve Milton from Innovations in Dementia. “It’s designed to give compassionate advice based on real experiences, showing how technology can responsibly use insights from those with dementia to help others.”
Tested with individuals like Gail Gregory and Ahmad Krayem, who both contributed to Liv’s creation, the AI avatar focuses on providing comfort and understanding. Lenovo and Innovations in Dementia hope to make this tool widely available in the future, making it clear that Liv is intended as a source of empathy, not as medical advice.
Source: backendnews
