UK and Canadian Collaboration: Edinburgh’s Centre for AI in Assistive Autonomy Joins AGE-WELL Dementia Care Workshop

On May 5–6, Toronto hosted an international workshop funded by the Advanced Care Research Centre (ACRC) and AGE-WELL, bringing together leading researchers and clinicians at the forefront of artificial intelligence and dementia care. Titled “AI in Dementia Care: Challenges and Opportunities,” the event was held at the KITE Research Institute at Toronto Rehab – UHN and featured key contributions from the Centre for AI in Assistive Autonomy and the University of Edinburgh’s ACRC.

The two-day workshop fostered rich interdisciplinary collaboration, uniting researchers, engineers, clinicians, and caregivers to explore how AI technologies can enhance care for people living with dementia in both community and residential settings. Discussions emphasised the importance of ethical, inclusive, and practical approaches to integrating AI into real-world care environments.

The opening keynote was delivered by Professor Ram Ramamoorthy, Director of the Centre for AI in Assistive Autonomy, who outlined the foundational requirements for developing assistive autonomous systems in healthcare.

A series of short research presentations highlighted cutting-edge projects in areas such as sensor-based monitoring, machine learning for behavioural analysis, and robotic assistance. These sessions showcased the breadth of innovation currently underway across institutions.

Participants also had the opportunity to tour the KITE Labs and the Toronto Rehab Institute’s specialised dementia unit, gaining firsthand insight into the environments where these technologies are being developed, tested, and implemented.