Bursa Uludağ University Academics to Develop an AI-Powered Virtual Assistant for Adults with Autism
Academics at Bursa Uludağ University (BUÜ) will develop a special artificial intelligence-supported virtual assistant system to help make the daily lives of adults with autism spectrum disorder easier.
Within the scope of the international Erasmus+ KA220-ADU project, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Emir Dirik, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Murtaza Cicioğlu, and Lecturer Koray Aki from the Department of Computer Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, together with Dr. Özge Boşnak from the Department of Special Education, Faculty of Education, will develop an AI-supported virtual assistant system designed to help adults with autism spectrum disorder prepare for social situations they may encounter in daily life. The kick-off meeting of the project, entitled “ASSIST-AI – Designing and Developing Artificial Intelligence Supported Virtual Assistant for Autistic Adults to Acquire and Develop Social Skills and Inclusion in Society,” was held in Frankfurt, Germany.
A System That Will Facilitate the Lives of Adults on the Autism Spectrum
Providing information about the project, Lecturer Koray Aki stated that the international partnership aims to develop an AI-supported virtual assistant system. He emphasized that the system will allow users to experience social situations they may encounter in everyday life within a low-stress, accessible, and customizable digital environment.
He explained:
“The project brings together six institutions from Germany, France, Spain, Türkiye, Belgium, and Portugal, combining expertise in artificial intelligence, special education, adult education, accessibility, and social inclusion. ASSIST-AI focuses particularly on supporting adults on the autism spectrum in areas such as social communication, reciprocal interaction, emotion regulation, problem-solving, decision-making, and daily living skills. The scenarios developed within the project will be integrated into the AI-supported virtual assistant system, enabling users to repeatedly practice these skills in a safe digital environment.”
Project Outcomes Will Contribute to Multiple Fields
Koray Aki further highlighted that, in addition to supporting the social skills of adults on the autism spectrum, the virtual assistant system is expected to provide practical training content and guidance materials for special education professionals, adult educators, families, and caregivers.
He added that the project aims to contribute both to individual learning processes and to professional support practices.
According to Aki, the AI-supported virtual assistant system developed at the end of the project will offer an innovative digital model that promotes the social inclusion and participation of adults with autism spectrum disorder in everyday life.