From Classroom to Community: AI in action for older adults in Nelson

Last year I had the privilege of developing and leading a groundbreaking new course:  AI for the Older Adult Sector.

Fully funded by The Selwyn Foundation through their Innovation Challenge on Respectful Ageing, the course is designed to educate and inspire professionals working in the older adult sector on how AI can be used to improve the lives of older adults across Aotearoa.

Throughout my nearly 25 years of programming and over a decade of teaching, I've never seen anything impact how we work as significantly or swiftly as AI tools. And as the primary instructor on the course, what made it truly special wasn't just sharing technical knowledge, but witnessing the enthusiasm and creativity that emerged when participants with deep expertise in the older adult sector engaged with cutting-edge technology. Rather than approaching AI with apprehension, the participants saw immediate possibilities for enhancing services and support for our aging population.

Ideas to action

A key feature of our AI for the Older Adult Sector course is the opportunity for participants to pitch their ideas for funding and technical support. Three exceptional ideas were selected for our technical team to implement a prototype, proof of concept, or small project.

The Nelson Visitor Ambassador initiative was one of the winning projects, and we were thrilled to provide hands-on technical expertise to build the AI assistant specifically designed for these volunteer ambassadors. This direct link from education to implementation exemplifies the practical impact we aim to achieve at Dev Academy Aotearoa.

Concept to reality: Nelson Visitor Ambassador Program

In June 2022, Nelson lost its i-SITE visitor information center, creating a significant gap in tourism services. Without a physical location for visitors to get information, the region needed a creative solution... Recruit and enable retired people to be volunteer visitor ambassadors, active on city streets, providing personalised guidance to tourists.

Where does AI come in?

Where our course made a tangible difference was in helping develop a knowledge base for an AI powered chat assistant to support the volunteers.

The system draws information from trusted local sources, including Department of Conservation websites, various tourism business platforms and nelsontasman.nz

This comprehensive AI powered tool enables the visitor ambassadors to quickly access up-to-date information about all aspects of tourism in the region. 

Instead of memorising countless details or carrying bulky reference materials, the ambassadors can simply query the AI system for specific information, multiplying their effectiveness while reducing the cognitive load of volunteering. 

The program officially launched on April 6 with the pilot set to run until June 2026, after which the Nelson City Council will evaluate its effectiveness and determine whether it should continue long-term. According to a recent article in The Press, NRDA chief executive Fiona Wilson said “we are looking forward to seeing how this initiative is received by visitors and our community to help us understand how viable and sustainable this approach is."

Looking forward

This successful implementation in Nelson represents exactly the kind of practical application we hoped would emerge from our AI education efforts. It demonstrates how thoughtful integration of AI can enhance rather than replace human connection, and how technology can be leveraged to create more inclusive communities for people of all ages.

We are deeply grateful to The Selwyn Foundation for their visionary funding of both the educational program and the Nelson Visitor Ambassador initiative. Their commitment to innovation in the older adult sector has made these impactful projects possible.

We look forward to continuing our work at the intersection of AI and the older adult sector, supporting more innovative projects that enhance quality of life and community engagement across Aotearoa.