Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: Novosibirsk State University –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Student Faculty of Mechanics and Mathematics Anna Arinicheva of Novosibirsk State University is developing an intelligent assistant for psychologists that takes over routine tasks and helps specialists focus on working with clients. The project won a student initiative competition and received a 1 million ruble grant from the Foundation for Assistance to Small Innovative Enterprises (FASIE).
According to the idea's creators, the AU assistant will take notes on consultations, systematize client information, and generate reports on their progress. A key feature of the solution is an interpretable algorithm for identifying cognitive biases, which highlights speech patterns and draws conclusions.
"The goal of our project isn't to replace psychologists, but to support them. Currently, specialists have to simultaneously take notes, ask questions, and monitor the client's nonverbal responses. This significantly reduces concentration and increases the risk of burnout. An AU assistant takes over the routine, freeing the psychologist to focus on working with the client," explains Anna Arinicheva.
The development is designed for individual consultations in both online and offline formats. It can be used by beginning specialists, as well as in clinics, government agencies, and corporate corporations, where the workload of a single psychologist is particularly high. Moreover, all the assistant's findings must be verified by a specialist—the technology serves as a support tool, not a replacement for a professional.
"Our solution is especially relevant for growing professionals, aggregator platforms, and clinics where a single psychologist handles a huge daily client flow and needs to maintain documentation while providing high-quality support. The AU assistant enables psychologists to maintain their effectiveness and avoid burnout even with a large client flow," notes Anna Arinicheva.
Today, approximately 19 million people in Russia consult psychologists, while the number of specialists does not exceed 100,000. The high workload forces psychologists to either limit the number of clients or risk losing their effectiveness. Experts believe that digital tools like the AU assistant can be a valuable aid in addressing this issue.
The origins of the internal algorithm were laid by Anton Kolonin, a leading specialist at the NSU Artificial Intelligence Center, who currently oversees the development. NSU Faculty of Mathematics and Mechanics graduate Evgeny Brazhnikov has joined the team and is responsible for prototyping. A working algorithm for identifying cognitive biases has already been developed, over 40 problem-solving interviews have been conducted, and letters of interest have been received from specialists at NSU, RANEPA, and the Ulyanovsk Region Association of Psychologists.
The team is currently preparing a prototype AU assistant for closed testing to identify potential flaws and refine the model before launching it. The grant funds will be used to complete the prototype and launch a marketing campaign. The minimum plan includes creating a Telegram bot that receives an audio recording of a consultation and provides a transcript, notes, and analytics on cognitive biases. Upon request, the bot will be able to generate reports on the client's progress from session to session. Promotion is planned through a subscription model, and the marketing strategy includes working with professional communities and creating a dedicated Telegram channel.
NSU students' participation in such projects demonstrates the university's key advantage: its education is closely linked to real-world research and entrepreneurial practice. According to the university, such initiatives allow students not only to gain unique experience but also to bring their developments to market.
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
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