Type of Project: Funded project
CHAT-AI

The CHAT-AI project is developing an accessible chatbot that uses state-of-the-art AI technologies to provide information on government support schemes for the employment of people with disabilities in the open labour market. The chatbot’s target groups are (1) people with disabilities who hold a job in the open labour market with suboptimal working conditions or who are looking for work, and (2) employers who employ (or wish to employ) people with disabilities. A central aspect of the chatbot’s development is the human-centred approach and, consequently, a strong focus on the target groups. Accordingly, the design of the prototype is strongly based on the previously identified requirements and needs of people with disabilities as potential employees, as well as those of employers. Based on natural language queries, the accessible and low-threshold chatbot provides targeted information to help users get started with the topic of support schemes. Information sources are disclosed transparently to build trust and make the support structures clear. By providing personalised information and asking targeted questions, the chatbot helps to facilitate access to the general labour market, promote inclusion and, in doing so, counteract the labour shortage. In addition, advisory organisations benefit from the fact that consultation appointments can be prepared in a more targeted manner. Overall, the chatbot is intended to help create better working conditions for people with disabilities in the mainstream labour market.