AIMY

"People of working age who live alone increase their risk of depression by up to 80% compared with people living in families", says a Finnish study. A mental health charity said people who lived alone must be given outlets to talk about their problems. Researchers said that living with other people could offer emotional support and feelings of social integration, as well as other factors that protect against mental health problems. Loneliness has a wide range of negative effects on both physical and mental health, including stress and depression.

Background:

People of working age who live alone increase their risk of depression by up to 80% compared with people living in families, says a Finnish study.A mental health charity said people who lived alone must be given outlets to talk about their problems. Researchers said that living with other people could offer emotional support and feelings of social integration, as well as other factors that protect against mental health problems.Loneliness has a wide range of negative effects on both physical and mental health, including stress and depression.

AIMY:

AIMY is derived from My AI (Artificial Intelligence) Friend.AIMY is an Artificial Intelligence (AI) based chatbot designed as a user’s partner, that will engage the user to keep mind off the situation that is troublesome. AIMY will behave as a friendly companion, to which the user can talk to.Our chatbot will listen to the user, convert it into text, then will apply Natural Language Understanding and respond to the user accordingly through speech. Our system will be trained to ask appropriate questions depending upon user's responses.

Features:

By leveraging IBM’s NLU service, AIMY is capable of understanding user’s responses. Each response is categorized based on user’s sentiment and then AIMY responds accordingly.Based on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), our system can identify various negative thoughts a user might express. These specific features are mapped into the chatbot as negative intents. Mentioned below are few of the key thoughts AIMY helps users recover from.

Negative
Worried about future	Regret, self-blaming, guilty	Feeling disappointed	Have less appetite
Failed	Lost interest in meeting people	Fed up with life.	Eat a lot when tensed
Life has become dull	Feeling ugly	Tired	Can't make decision in life
	Can't sleep well	Sleeping all day

AIMY taps into several databases and APIs to extract information for the user. Such features are mapped into the chatbot and are accessed to divert user’s attention from negative to positive. To engage the user in something interesting, AIMY offers various exciting activities such as the following:

Positive
Ted Talks	Books	Movies	Songs
Useful Tips	Jokes	Upcoming Soccer Matches	Weather
Favorite Personality	News	Yoga

Architecture:

AIMY has been built as an android app in the prototype stage. The interface for the user is voice based. So, the user talks to AIMY, AIMY converts this speech to text & sends it to its backend to understand what the user just said. Here at the backend AIMY uses WATSON NLU to understand intents & then drives conversation accordingly using Watson Assistant. It taps into various APIs & databases to move the conversation forward. The result is then sent back to the android app where the user hears what AIMY’s response is. The backend app is deployed on Bluemix while the frontend is a mobile app.

Technology Details:

Tasks	Technology	Other APIs
Chatbot Implementation	IBM Watson Assistant	Books
Sentiment Analysis	IBM Natural Language Understanding (NLU)	Movies
Text to Speech	Watson Text to Speech	Songs
Crawlers	Reddit and Answers.com	Ted Talks
		Football Matches
		Weather based on user’s location

Existing Technologies:

We explored existing technologies & came across some famous apps such as Talkspace, Joyable, Woebot, and Wysa. While Talkspace & Joyable are ways to connect you to a therapist through an app; Woebot & Wysa are chatbots. They keep you on track while you are in therapy & as such are great to use in between therapy sessions.

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FAQs

What is AIMY?

AIMY is an Artificial Intelligence (AI) based chatbot developed to serve as a friendly companion and partner to individuals who may be feeling lonely or troubled. Derived from "My AI Friend," AIMY engages users in conversation, listens to their thoughts, and responds through speech using Natural Language Understanding (NLU) technology.

How does AIMY work?

AIMY listens to the user's input, converts it into text, and utilizes IBM's NLU service to understand the user's responses. The system categorizes these responses based on the user's sentiment and employs Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) techniques to identify and address negative thoughts expressed by the user. AIMY then responds accordingly to provide emotional support and engagement.

What does AIMY help users with?

AIMY is designed to help users cope with feelings of loneliness, stress, and depression. By employing CBT principles, AIMY identifies and addresses various negative thoughts that users might express. It provides a supportive and understanding environment for users to talk about their problems and feelings.

How does AIMY categorize user responses?

AIMY categorizes user responses based on their sentiment, allowing the chatbot to understand the user's emotional state. This categorization helps AIMY respond appropriately, providing personalized and empathetic interactions with the users.

Is AIMY capable of asking appropriate questions?

Yes, AIMY is programmed to ask appropriate questions depending on the user's responses. Through its NLU capabilities, AIMY can engage users in meaningful conversations, guiding them through a supportive dialogue that encourages self-reflection and positive thinking.

Is AIMY a substitute for professional therapy or counseling?

No, AIMY is not a substitute for professional therapy or counseling. While AIMY provides emotional support and engages users in positive conversations, it is not a replacement for professional mental health services. Users facing severe mental health issues are encouraged to seek help from licensed therapists, counselors, or mental health professionals.

How can I access AIMY?

AIMY can be accessed through various platforms, such as mobile apps and websites. Users can interact with AIMY through text or speech, making it convenient for individuals to engage with the chatbot whenever they need emotional support or companionship.

Is AIMY free to use?

The availability and pricing of AIMY may vary based on the platform or service provider. Some versions of AIMY might be offered for free, while others could require a subscription or one-time payment.

How can AIMY benefit people living alone?

AIMY can benefit individuals living alone by providing them with a supportive companion to talk to, helping reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation. By engaging in positive conversations with AIMY, users can experience emotional support and social interaction, which can contribute to improved mental well-being.

Can AIMY help with other mental health issues besides loneliness?

While AIMY is primarily designed to address feelings of loneliness, stress, and depression, its supportive and empathetic interactions can be beneficial for individuals dealing with various mental health challenges. However, AIMY is not a substitute for professional mental health treatment, and individuals with serious mental health conditions should seek assistance from qualified healthcare providers.