Academics from Bursa Uludağ University (BUU) are set to develop a specialized AI-powered virtual assistant system aimed at facilitating the daily lives of adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Under the international Erasmus+ KA220-ADU project, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Emir Dirik, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Murtaza Cicioğlu, and Lecturer Koray Aki from the BUU Faculty of Engineering (Department of Computer Engineering), alongside Asst. Prof. Dr. Özge Boşnak from the Faculty of Education (Department of Special Education), will develop an artificial intelligence-supported virtual assistant. This system is designed to help adults on the autism spectrum prepare for social situations they encounter in their daily lives. The kick-off meeting for the project, titled "ASSIST-AI – Designing and Developing Artificial Intelligence Supported Virtual Assistant for Autistic Adults to Acquire and Develop Social Skills and Inclusion in Society," was recently held in Frankfurt, Germany.
Facilitating Daily Life for Adults on the Autism Spectrum
Sharing details about the initiative, Lecturer Koray Aki stated that the international project aims to deliver a cutting-edge, AI-backed virtual assistant. Aki emphasized that the system will allow users to experience daily social scenarios within a low-stress, highly accessible, and personalized digital environment.
"Bringing together six different institutions from Germany, France, Spain, Turkey, Belgium, and Portugal, this project bridges the fields of artificial intelligence, special education, adult education, accessibility, and social inclusion," Aki explained. "ASSIST-AI specifically focuses on supporting adults on the autism spectrum in key areas such as social communication, mutual interaction, emotion regulation, problem-solving, decision-making, and daily living skills. The scenarios designed within this framework will be integrated into the AI-driven virtual assistant, enabling users to practice these essential skills repeatedly in a safe digital space."
Multi-Dimensional Contributions from Project Outputs
Lecturer Koray Aki further highlighted that while the virtual assistant is primarily designed to boost the social skills of adults on the autism spectrum, it is also planned to provide practical training content and guide materials for special education specialists, adult education professionals, families, and caregivers. He added that the project's outputs are intended to support both individual learning processes and professional care practices.
Aki concluded that the AI-powered virtual assistant system, once completed, will serve as an innovative digital model that actively fosters and supports the integration of adults with autism spectrum disorder into social life.
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Create Date: 6/8/2026
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