‘AI 시대 외로움’ 측정해보실래요?…카이스트 18일 국제 콘퍼런스

The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) is hosting an international conference on 'Loneliness in the AI Age' on March 18th from 9:30 AM to 6:00 PM at the E9 conference hall in Daejeon. The conference, announced on December 12th, brings together officials from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the World Health Organization (WHO), as well as domestic and international policy and research experts.

The aim is to scientifically measure and address the growing loneliness and social isolation caused by the AI era through international cooperation.

The event, organized by the KAIST Center for Science Diplomacy (KCSD), is sponsored by the Presidential Office's Office for the Office of the Special Representative for Low Birthrate and Aging Society, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and the Korean Association for Social Welfare. KAIST will propose a 'Artificial Intelligence-based Loneliness Measurement Index' (AI-LOVI) framework, combining self-reporting survey-based loneliness assessment with multi-modal frameworks that incorporate voice, text, and wearable-based biological signals.

The conference will discuss various aspects, including cultural, linguistic, and age differences, multi-country validation, and individual privacy and research ethics.

Participants will discuss ways to integrate these elements, cultural and language differences, age-related variations, and how to complement personal experiences and self-assessments with expert opinions to support human-centered care. The result of these discussions is expected to be the adoption of the 'Global Declaration on Loneliness in the AI Age,' which will define loneliness as a shared societal challenge affecting public health, social cohesion, and human dignity, rather than just a personal vulnerability or temporary emotion.

The declaration will propose four guiding principles: putting people first, adopting multiple measurement methods, connecting through science, and validating globally.