UNSW’s AI companions for student wellbeing

“University of NSW (UNSW) researchers have developed new digital AI companions designed to support students experiencing loneliness, isolation and mental-health challenges. Loneliness is increasingly recognised as a significant health risk, affecting physical and mental wellbeing, quality of life and even life expectancy. For students, particularly international students, loneliness can undermine academic performance, social integration and overall university experience. The prototype companions, Tom and Mia, were created by a multidisciplinary team led by Scientia Professor Jill Bennett, director of the Big Anxiety Research Centre (BARC). The digital characters appear on screens, speak in both English and Mandarin, and are designed to offer conversational support that helps students regulate difficult emotions and feel less alone. Tom and Mia were developed with direct input from Chinese international students in UNSW Arts, Design and Architecture’s Work Integrated Learning and master’s programs. Students shared how language barriers, cultural adjustment and limited support networks can intensify feelings of isolation. “Our characters are co-designed by the communities who use them – by people who live with the challenges that we want to design our AI companion to address,” Professor Bennett said. “This makes a significant difference in creating relatable AI companions that people want to interact with.” More on this story: Service fined $500k for helping students cheat | Tech leaders on how AI can help students | Sector gets first AI pro vice-chancellor The project builds on the fEEL ARC Laureate Lab’s long-running work creating digital companions for people in aged care who are living with dementia and other neurodegenerative conditions. The team uses screen-based delivery, including TVs and mobile devices, to make the technology accessible to users who may not be comfortable with traditional chatbots. AI support, not AI therapy Professor Bennett emphasises that the companions are not intended to replace professional mental health services. “The AI companions don’t replace a professional therapist,” she said. “But if you’re feeling down and depressed, our goal is for them to be able to have a relatively skilled conversation, the kind you might have with a friend, attuned to your situation. “It’s about having access to something that can provide useful support in the short term.” The companions are designed to offer gentle challenge, not passive agreement, a key distinction from many commercial AI tools. “We know it’s not good for someone’s mental health to just agree with everything you say,” Prof. Bennett said. “You need some resistance to gently challenge people.” ‘Viv’ (above) is the fEEL ARC Laureate Lab's AI companion for people living with dementia. Picture: Supplied/UNSW. “Our view is that AI is here and we need to engage, but we are not AI crusaders.” The team works closely with clinicians and AI specialists across UNSW to ensure the companions’ responses remain safe, appropriate and aligned with psychosocial best practice. “When people say they’re lonely, we look at what type of conversation they want to have, so it’s not a blanket prescription,” Professor Bennett said. A different kind of AI Unlike typical chatbots, Tom and Mia are designed to feel like skilled friends; patient, empathetic and available at any time. “It’s something AI companions can do very well,” Prof. Bennett said. “Unlike humans, they are obviously even-tempered; they are not going to get irritated or impatient.” Students can talk to the companions about a wide range of topics, from stress and sleep to music or coursework. The team is now working on making the companions’ voices more natural and human, recognising the calming effect of tone and cadence. “To have AI characters speak in a voice you like will be an important part of their development,” Professor Bennett said.

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