VideoMRI 

For my AI in Society final assignment, my team and developed a proposal that addresses a real problem: children's anxiety during MRI scans. Instead of accepting the current practice of sedating kids, which has side effects, we designed an AI-powered solution that combines gaming elements with healthcare to create a calming, personalized experience.

The concept is simple but effective. Before their MRI scan, children use a tablet to draw their own hero and companion characters through an AI-powered drawing interaction. They also choose their preferred story genre like exploration, humor, friendship, or action. The AI then creates a short, customized movie featuring their drawings in a story that matches their chosen theme. When the child enters the MRI room, they wear a VR headset and watch their personalized movie during the scan, seeing their own artwork come to life in a story designed just for them.

This project came from researching the serious problems with current AI applications in gaming and creative industries. I discovered how AI is often used to exploit players through addictive mechanics, biased algorithms, and privacy violations. Companies prioritize profit over user well-being, creating "dark design patterns" that harm people, especially vulnerable groups. Our proposal directly challenges these practices by showing how AI can be designed with ethical principles at its core.

The intervention addresses key criticisms of current AI by focusing on inclusivity, positive engagement, and privacy protection. Each child shapes their own experience through drawing and genre selection, ensuring the content resonates with their unique needs rather than relying on biased generalized data. Unlike exploitative gaming mechanics, the AI creates healthy engagement focused on comfort and reassurance during a stressful medical procedure. The system operates transparently with clear consent from parents and guardians, using children's drawings only to create their personalized experience.

Working on this project changed how I think about AI's role in society. Instead of seeing it as just a tool for automation or entertainment, I began to understand its potential as a medium for emotional support and empowerment. The project showed me how interdisciplinary approaches can lead to innovative solutions that bridge different fields like gaming and healthcare. Most importantly, it highlighted the responsibility that comes with designing AI systems and how speculative projects can help us imagine futures where technology serves human values rather than corporate profits.