AI robot introduced at press event at Agnes Cultural Center

On Wednesday, AI-gnes was presented - an AI robot that will give book tips and inspire children and young people to read.

The robot will be located at the City Library in Agnes Cultural Center.

How can a talking AI robot make children more curious about books? The municipality of Gävle, through Agnes Kulturhus, the University of Gävle and Microsoft now want to explore this together through a new joint venture.

During a press conference at Agnes Kulturhus on Wednesday, a new project was presented where an AI robot of the Furhat model will help children and young people find the joy of reading. Arbetarbladet, SVT Gävleborg, and P4 came to watch and test the robot.

"An exciting opportunity"

AI-gnes, as the robot is called for now, will be placed in the children's and young people's department at Gävle City Library (in the Agnes Cultural Center) and act as an interactive support - a digital librarian who can answer questions, recommend books and guide the children further in reading and with the help of stories.

"This is an exciting opportunity to stimulate reading, both from a learning and educational perspective. The idea is that the robot will eventually be connected to the library's catalog system and be able to tell which books are available to borrow, and where," says Claes Westelius, project manager from the University of Gävle.

The initiative is funded by a donation from Microsoft to the University of Gävle's fundraising foundation for research and education. The robot will be programmed and further developed by researchers and students at the University.

- "As a technology company, we want to stimulate interest in STEM subjects, but also contribute to empowering young people through reading and education," says Mia Enayatollah from Microsoft. "This project combines those ambitions in a very nice way".

"Can inspire children"

Petra Jonsson, Director of Agnes Cultural Center and Library, emphasized the role of the library as an open and democratic place:

"We see the AI robot as a complement that can inspire children to want to know more. This is also a symbol of how relevant and urgent AI has become in education and information literacy".

The AI robot will meet the children at the library, but also participate in various activities organized at the Agnes Cultural Centre.