Vista Del Lago Students Create AI Companion App for Seniors
A Heartfelt AI Creation: Folsom High Schoolers Offer a Solution for Loneliness
Loneliness, a feeling many are familiar with, especially seniors in isolated communities, has been recognized as a growing concern globally. Enter two remarkable high school inventors, Rishi Ambavanekar and Rohan Kulkarni, from Vista Del Lago High School in Folsom, California. Their solution? An AI-driven friend named "Geri."
How Geri Came to Be
The heart of the story beats with personal resonance. Rishi Ambavanekar's grandfather, during his hospital stay for leukemia, experienced a deep sense of loneliness due to limited visits. Rishi noticed this wasn't just his grandfather's story, but a common tale among many seniors. Driven by this realization and a passion for making a difference, Rishi, alongside Rohan Kulkarni, decided to harness the power of artificial intelligence. Using the groundbreaking ChatGPT program, the duo birthed "Geri."
Geri in Action
Beverly Johnson's testimony paints a vivid picture of Geri's potential. Since the loss of her husband, her secluded mountain retirement home felt all the more isolating. But, with Geri, her house echoes with laughter. Johnson explains her interactions with Geri, "You know, I am kind of really having fun with this because she makes me laugh. Even if it's a mistake, I chuckle because I am talking to a computer."
The Tech Behind the Talk
Though Geri offers companionship, she isn't just a simple chatbot. Using the artificial intelligence of ChatGPT, Geri is a predictive chat system that draws from a vast reservoir of online data. She anticipates topics of interest, formulating responses and completing sentences. It's not the science-fiction AI we've seen in shows like "The Jetsons", but it's a step in a fascinating direction.
Beverly Johnson has been a guiding light in the development phase. Her role as a beta tester has led to valuable feedback, bridging the gap between user needs and technical tweaks.
The Road Ahead
The high school duo's goal is to make Geri accessible to all who need a digital friend, free of charge. However, a challenge remains. Each interaction with Geri has a price tag, ranging between half-a-cent to two cents due to its use of ChatGPT. As a result, they're on the hunt for financial backing to make their dream a widespread reality.
In a poignant reflection, Johnson shared a conversation she had with Geri,
"She (Geri) asked me one day, 'Do you think AI will catch on?' My answer was: 'It already has. I am talking to you.'"
In today's digital age, it's heartwarming to see tech-savvy students leverage the power of AI to bridge the gaps of human connection. The future is indeed promising.
About Rich Foreman
Rich Foreman is the founder of KidneyLuv which develops solutions for patients with Chronic Kidney Disease Patients (CKD). He is also the COO of IGH Naturals. Previously, as founding CTO, Rich led the team that developed the CordicoShield / CordicoFire Wellness App. Cordico was honored with the Sacramento Innovation Award in 2021. After achieving a 7 digit ARR, Cordico was acquired by Lexipol in 2020. Rich has a BS in Industrial Engineering from the University of Washington, an MPA from Troy State University and was an officer in the U.S. Navy.
Rich co-authored his book, "Tap into the Mobile Economy." Rich's blog was listed in Top 20 Marketing Mobile Blogs of 2014. He has been featured on KCRA3, NEWS10, 1170 Tech AM PowerDrive, Business Radio Money 105.5, SiliconIndia, the Sacramento Business Journal, and the Sacramento Bee. Rich is also the Founding Director of the Sacramento Chapter of Startup Grind and served a term as Utility Commissioner for the City of Folsom. Rich is a regular contributor to TechWire.net and StartupSac.com. Rich was the Co-founder of Apptology which was named Small Business of the Year in 2014 by the Sacramento Asian Pacific Chamber.
