Gov. DeWine helps launch AI hologram aiming to help kids – Spectrum News

Gov. DeWine helps launch AI hologram aiming to help kids  Spectrum News

Lifetown Columbus in New Albany is using an AI hologram named Mia to help students with special needs practice life skills in simulated settings. COLUMBUS, Ohio —An artificial intelligence hologram at Lifetown Columbus in New Albany is being used to help students with special needs practice life skills in a simulated community setting. The hologram, named Mia, is part of a new tool called Super Buddy. It is located inside Lifetown Columbus, a 5,000-square-foot village that simulates real-life experiences for students with special needs. Mia is programmed to answer questions and help students build on lessons they have already learned. “It was really easy chatting with Mia, and I feel like she’s my friend,” said Sasha Ferrell, who helped demonstrate the hologram’s capabilities.

Their mother, Lynnette Ferrell, said Kingston was diagnosed with autism as a baby. “I was nervous how he was going to make it in the world and get along with other people,” Lynnette Ferrell said. Gov. Mike DeWine, R-Ohio, attended the event to help launch the new technology. “Our obligation is to show them all the opportunities they have, and at the same time give them the skills so they can actually do the job that they want to do,” DeWine said. Rabbi Arayeh Kaltmann, who runs Lifetown, said the technology is meant to support students as