SerenAI

What it does

SerenAI is a robotic story companion designed to support chemotherapy and dementia patients by preserving personal memories, recognizing emotional distress, and providing comforting, AI-driven interaction to ease cognitive and emotional challenges.

Your inspiration

The inspiration for SerenAI came from watching several people lose themselves to chemotherapy treatments and Dementia, their memories fading and their spirit dimming. During chemotherapy, I also saw the isolation and fear that comes with feeling forgotten and unheard. It broke my heart to witness their struggle alone with confusion and loneliness. I wanted to create something that could hold their memories, listen when no one else could, and offer comfort through stories and connection—giving them a gentle reminder that they are still loved, seen, and remembered.

How it works

SerenAI is a gentle robotic companion designed to support chemotherapy and dementia patients by combining smart technology with empathy. It listens and learns by storing personal stories, voice notes, and memories shared by the user or their loved ones. Using cameras and microphones, it detects signs of emotional distress, like changes in facial expressions or voice tone. When it senses sadness or confusion, SerenAI softly plays comforting stories, familiar voices, or positive reminders to soothe and reconnect the user. Its built-in AI adapts over time, personalizing interactions to the patient’s needs. The robot also offers simple conversation and memory prompts to help ease cognitive challenges, providing companionship and emotional support whenever needed.

Design process

The design process for SerenAI began with a personal experience: seeing loved ones struggle with memory loss and emotional isolation during chemotherapy and dementia. I started by researching how storytelling and emotional support can aid healing and cognitive function. I explored existing companion robots and identified gaps—most lacked personalized memory recall and emotional responsiveness. The first step was sketching a friendly, approachable robot design that could feel comforting, not clinical. I built simple prototypes using a Raspberry Pi with a camera, microphone, and speaker to test emotion detection through facial recognition and voice tone analysis. Early prototypes played generic stories but lacked personalization. Next, I integrated a basic AI to store and playback user-specific memories and voice recordings, making interactions feel more meaningful. I improved the interface to respond gently to user emotions, adding adaptive storytelling triggered by detected distress. Currently, I’m refining the AI to better understand nuanced emotions and enhancing the hardware for smoother interaction, with plans for user testing to ensure SerenAI truly meets patients’ emotional and cognitive needs.

How it is different

SerenAI is unique because it combines personalized memory preservation with real-time emotional intelligence in a single robotic companion—specifically designed for chemotherapy and dementia patients. Unlike existing robots that offer generic companionship or simple reminders, SerenAI actively listens, stores personal stories, and detects subtle emotional changes through facial and voice cues. It then responds with tailored storytelling, familiar voices, and comforting reminders to soothe distress and support cognitive function. This adaptive, empathetic interaction creates a deeply personal experience that evolves with the user’s needs, bridging memory loss and emotional isolation in ways no other product currently does.

Future plans

The next steps for SerenAI include refining its AI to better detect complex emotions and improve personalized storytelling. I plan to develop a more compact, user-friendly prototype and conduct trials with patients and caregivers to gather feedback. Business plans involve partnering with healthcare providers and memory care centers to integrate SerenAI into treatment and support programs. Ultimately, I aim to make SerenAI affordable and accessible globally, helping millions of chemotherapy and dementia patients reconnect with their memories and find emotional comfort every day.

Awards