About Connie
An AI-mentor to increase youth access to community arts activities
Connie was developed as part of a research project at the University of Melbourne, co-designed with young people to help them discover local arts and creative opportunities that support social connection and wellbeing.
Our aim
To co-design an AI-supported pathway that helps young people discover local arts and creative opportunities supporting social connection and wellbeing.
How Connie was made
Co-design workshops with young adults and interviews with community leaders shaped the design of the AI. Youth co-researchers were integral to interpreting youth data and throughout the development of the prototype ‘Connie’. Connie was also trialled by young adults.
(Images made with assistance from ChatGPT)
What young people say
“Connie is amazing. I think it’s revolutionary. I think there is not another AI like it out there.” — Youth co-researcher 1
“It’s really nice to have something positive and to have an example of AI being used for the benefit of young people. I think that’s really important.” — Youth co-researcher 2
“Connie gives an opportunity for young people to find community and like-minded people in activities that they actually want to participate in — which, in regional areas, is something that is quite lacking.” — Youth co-researcher 3
“Connie is an AI designed to connect people with other people, and to get people out of their houses.” — Youth co-researcher 1
“What I liked most about interacting with Connie was how friendly, patient, and understanding she was throughout the conversation. She made it easy to express my thoughts comfortably and created a welcoming atmosphere where I felt listened to and respected.” — Trial user 1
“Honestly, it’s just easy. It feels way more like chatting with a friend who knows what's on rather than digging through endless search results or messy event websites.” — Trial user 2
“The conversational flow felt very natural. The way Connie structured the information was excellent; providing clear details, made it easy to decide if an activity suited my mood. It didn't just list events, it described the experience.” — Trial user 3
“Usually, I'm jumping between like three or four different tabs — Eventbrite, Google, maybe Instagram or a Facebook group and still not feeling confident I've found everything relevant. With Connie, I just described what I wanted in plain language and got a curated list in one go. The difference is it actually gives you context - cost, vibe, accessibility, so you're not clicking into ten different links just to figure out if something is worth going to.” — Trial user 4
With support from
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