On March 21, 2024, the AAL Lab, in collaboration with ScaDS.AI Dresden/Leipzig, hosted a theme day at its Leipzig location on the use of artificial intelligence and assistive technologies to promote independent living in old age.

During the event, more than 25 seniors gained a comprehensive insight into the possibilities of artificial intelligence, big data, and assistive systems in their own homes. The City of Leipzig’s officer for seniors also attended the event.

Following an interesting presentation on the fundamentals of AI and big data, participants took a tour of the Living Lab at ScaDS.AI, an institute for artificial intelligence and big data, where the wide-ranging applications of artificial intelligence were demonstrated. Afterward, participants had the exciting opportunity to interact with an AI chatbot in a hands-on workshop.

In the second part of the event, Professor Andreas Hoff, Director of the GAT Institute, gave a presentation on the importance and diversity of assistive systems for independent aging in one’s own home. Afterward, participants were taken on a virtual tour of the Ambient Assisted Living Laboratory in Görlitz and were able to try out some of the technologies for themselves during the interactive technology demonstration.

The event concluded with a panel discussion on the topic “How Can AI Help Solve the Challenges of an Aging Society?” featuring representatives from politics, business, academia, and civil society. Moderated by Dr. Hermann Diebel-Fischer (ScaDS.AI Dresden/Leipzig), the discussion featured Kerstin Motzer (Senior Citizens’ Commissioner for the City of Leipzig), Dr.-Ing. Thomas Löffler (Professor of Ergonomics and Innovation Management & Board Member of WohnXperium, Chemnitz University of Technology) and Prof. Dr. Andreas Hoff (Director of the “Health, Ageing, Technology” (GAT) Research Institute) engaged in a solution-oriented discussion about the possibilities of artificial intelligence and addressed questions from the audience.