A start-up company based at ADAPT, the Science Foundation Ireland Centre for artificial intelligence at Trinity College Dublin, has secured more than €500,000 in funding through the Enterprise Ireland commercialisation fund programme.

The start-up, which has a project name of Amethyst Care, aims to improve the lives of people with mobility-related illnesses by using AI to help them live independently at home for longer.

Enterprise Ireland's commercialisation fund supports third-level researchers in translating their research into innovative and commercially viable products, services and companies.  

Led by Prof Vinny Wade, chair of artificial intelligence at Trinity's School of Computer Science and Statistics and former director of ADAPT, the team aims to develop an AI-driven voice assistant to detect early signs of cognitive decline and enable timely interventions that could delay or mitigate the symptoms of cognitive illnesses.

The assistant will be expected to continuously monitor vital signs and detect abnormalities; provide reminders for medication, appointments and daily tasks; serve real-time notifications to family members and emergency services in case of falls or accidents; and offer tools for memory enhancement and mental stimulation.

“The start-up will combine innovative state-of-the-art generative AI techniques with personalisation technology to deliver a voice based companion to assist older people live more easily at home or in sheltered accommodation," said Prof Wade.

"The GenAI voice-based assistant will provide continuous care support as well as daily levels of companionship and voice assistance.”

The team is responding to an increase globally in mobility diseases such as Parkinson's and early dementia, which have doubled over the past 30 years.

The number of people living with dementia worldwide is forecast to increase from approximately 60m now to 150m in 2050. 

Rebecca McManus, entrepreneur and the commercial lead for the start-up, said: “Our goal is to address key issues faced by patients, caregivers, and the healthcare system, including loneliness, medication management, cognitive decline, caregiver stress, and healthcare professional shortages.

"This Enterprise Ireland funding will significantly advance our efforts, enabling us to expend our team and prepare for full-scale commercialisation over the next 18 months.”

Photo: (l-r) Rebecca McManus and Vinny Wade. (Pic: Supplied)