WITH more than eight in 10 autistic adults not getting enough physical exercise, a new chatbot from the University of Limerick aims to get more moving.
UL and Gemmo AI created the MoveMuse chatbot to educate and motivate autistic individuals to be more physically active.
Initially focused on autistic college students, the initiative aims to harness artificial intelligence to provide personalised prompts and guidance for engaging in physical activity.
Autistic adults face significant physical and mental health disparities compared to the general population. One cause of these disparities is low levels of physical activity.
Only about 19 per cent of autistic adults meet the recommended physical activity guidelines, compared to 49 per cent of the general population. This inactivity contributes to higher rates of obesity, cardiovascular disease, and metabolic disorders.
MoveMuse is trained using the latest large language model technology, incorporating peer-reviewed scientific literature on exercise and autism. It leverages the evidence-based WOOP (Wish, Outcome, Obstacle, Plan) strategy to enhance motivation and goal-setting.
This strategy helps users visualise their goals, identify potential obstacles, and create practical plans — a particularly beneficial approach for autistic individuals who thrive with structured guidance.
The project is in collaboration with the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Dublin City University, KU Leuven, and Józef Piłsudski University of Physical Education in Warsaw.
“Through the MoveMuse chatbot we aim to empower autistic adults to lead more active and healthier lives,” says Dr Sean Healy, from the Physical Activity for Health (PAfT) Centre at the University of Limerick.
