An AI companionship project
Find Purpose & Joy
with Your AI Companion
IkigAI explores how socially assistive robotics and AI can bring companionship, emotional support, and a sense of belonging to everyday life.
A student project by the University of Münster and Kogakuin University
Our Mission
To bring companionship, happiness, and a sense of belonging to everyday life.
“IkigAI is designed as a heartwarming AI companion — always close, always kind, and always ready to listen.”
The Problem
Loneliness Is More Than Being Alone
Many people, especially older adults, experience emotional loneliness even when care structures exist around them. IkigAI explores how technology can support everyday emotional connection — without replacing human relationships.
Aging Societies
Germany and Japan are facing rapidly aging populations and shifting family structures.
Emotional Loneliness
Many older adults feel emotionally alone, even when surrounded by care.
Pressure on Care Systems
Caregivers and support systems are stretched, leaving less time for warm connection.
Meet IkigAI
A small companion with a warm heart.
IkigAI is envisioned as a small AI-supported robotic companion that can talk, listen, express emotions, and create small moments of warmth in daily life.
- Spoken conversation
- Emotional visual expressions
- Recognizable personality
- Gentle daily interaction
- Supportive companionship
“IkigAI is not here to replace human connection — it is here to encourage it.”
Key Features
What IkigAI is designed to do
Emotional Support
IkigAI is designed to listen, respond gently, and offer comfort during quiet moments.
Social Facilitation
IkigAI can encourage warm interactions and help users feel more connected to the people around them.
Daily Joy
Small conversations, playful moments, and friendly check-ins can brighten everyday routines.
Genuine Belonging
The goal is to create a feeling of presence, kindness, and emotional connection.
How It Works
How IkigAI Interacts
You Speak
The user talks to IkigAI naturally.
IkigAI Listens
Speech input is processed and understood.
AI Responds
IkigAI generates a warm and context-aware reply.
IkigAI Expresses
Voice, face, and gentle motion bring it to life.
Prototype Concept
A tangible companion experience
The prototype is planned as a small, friendly robot with a screen-based face, emotional expressions, and simple movement. The concept combines software, AI interaction, and robotics into a tangible companion experience.
- Small companion robot
- Screen-based emotional face
- Voice interaction
- Emotion-to-action mapping
- Gentle robotic movement
- Wi-Fi based AI communication
- Modular hardware (e.g. Raspberry Pi)
Research & Design Thinking
Built through research and care
IkigAI is developed through literature research, interviews, design thinking, and iterative prototyping. The team investigates loneliness, human-robot interaction, AI companionship, ethical considerations, and acceptance barriers.
Empathize
Understand emotional loneliness and user needs.
Define
Create personas and identify core challenges.
Ideate
Develop possible AI companion concepts.
Prototype
Build and test early interaction ideas.
Test
Collect feedback and improve the concept.
One early design thinking persona is “Horst”, representing an older adult who may benefit from warm daily interaction and emotional support.
International Collaboration
An International Student Collaboration
IkigAI is developed as part of the HINODE Sunrise Project by students from the University of Münster and Kogakuin University. The project combines information systems, AI, software, robotics, mechanical engineering, and cross-cultural research.
University of Münster
AI concept, software, research, communication, website, project development
Kogakuin University
Robotics, hardware, mechanical engineering, physical prototype development
Together, both teams explore how technology can support emotional well-being across cultural contexts.
Project Roadmap
From idea to prototype
Early May
Project idea, team roles, branding, LinkedIn & email setup
Mid May
Client brief, logo, flyer, design thinking session
Late May
Research, interviews, prototype concept refinement
Early June
Website development and stakeholder outreach
June
Prototype development, feedback collection, testing
July
Final presentation and project results
Current stage: research, prototype development, website creation, and stakeholder feedback collection.
Join Our Journey
Let's stay in touch.
Are you interested in AI companionship, social robotics, elderly care, emotional well-being, or human-centered technology? We would love to hear your perspective.