• A groundbreaking social experiment leverages AI powered by Lenovo to raise awareness of loneliness and anxiety among Gen Z, exacerbated by stark differences between their real and online lives.

  • A new Lenovo survey found that 60% of Gen Z respondents wish they were able to have difficult conversations with family members in real life.

  • Nearly half (48%) say speaking with a trained professional would give them the confidence to talk more openly with their loved ones in the real world.

  • Lenovo has partnered with mental health nonprofits in the U.S., U.K. and Japan to expand access to 24/7 mental health support for young people.

Raleigh, North Carolina, May 29, 2024–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Today, Lenovo™ The company unveiled the latest edition of its Work For Humankind project, titled “Meet Your Digital Self”, which highlights the role that smarter technology and AI can play in driving change and supporting mental health professionals in addressing the global youth mental health crisis. The initiative aims to address the challenges faced by young people who live different lives in the real world and online, with two-thirds (67%) of Gen Z feeling a disconnect between their online and offline selves, leading to increased feelings of loneliness and anxiety. Nearly half (49%) of Gen Z say it's easier to express themselves online than offline, while 60% wish they could have difficult conversations with family and loved ones in the real world.

Sarah Kendrick, clinical director at Mental Health Innovations, the charity that runs the UK's 24/7 text support service Shout “One in eight people worldwide suffer from a mental illness, with Gen Z most affected at one in five. Lenovo's AI innovation in our 'Meet Your Digital Self' social experiment holds promise as a way for generations with different understandings of their online personas to meet and understand each other.”

In this first-of-its-kind social experiment, Lenovo pioneered the use of AI, enabled by a broad portfolio of technologies, from phones and PCs to infrastructure, software, services, solutions and cloud. The combination of technologies brought the entire online personas of two Gen Z project participants to life-like avatars capable of natural, unscripted conversation.

The experiment facilitated impactful and heartfelt conversations between participants, their families, and the avatars – conversations that might not have happened in the real world. The families were either unaware of the Gen Z participants’ online worlds or did not understand or accept them, such as their career choices or gender identity. By asking questions of the digital avatars and conversing in real time, family members were each able to gain valuable insight into their Gen Z loved one’s true self as represented in the online world, allowing them to better understand and reconnect in the real world. This project is a pioneering proof of concept that shows technology can bring positive change to a youth mental health epidemic that is exacerbated by struggling to balance two distinct online and offline identities.

The 3D avatars were not only built to resemble each participant, but also to react to real-time conversations, adjusting their tone of voice, movements and facial expressions accordingly – they were trained with data taken directly from each participant's online persona.

According to new Lenovo research, nearly half (48%) of Gen Z say that speaking with a trained professional would give them the confidence to talk more openly with their loved ones in the real world.

As part of our efforts to expand mental health support and resources to those in need, Lenovo has partnered with several organizations, including Shout, a UK-based free, confidential, 24/7 text messaging service; Crisis Text Line, a nonprofit that provides free, 24/7 confidential text-based mental health support in English and Spanish to anyone in the US and Puerto Rico; and Your Place in Japan. These organizations train real people, who are then supervised by mental health professional staff to provide support to millions of people in need.

Digital versions of the two Gen Z participants were created with the participants' consent by securely aggregating data from social media, blogs and forum handles. The data was trained and tested and the project was designed and brought to life using Lenovo devices, services, software, servers and cloud solutions. This is the first time that Lenovo solutions have come together to develop this kind of avatar. Devices and solutions include Lenovo ThinkStation™ workstations, ThinkCentre™ desktop computers, Lenovo Legion™, ThinkBook™, Yoga™ laptops, Lenovo tablets, ThinkVision™ monitors and accessories, motorola razr smartphones, ThinkEdge™ SE450 edge servers, AI professional services and Lenovo | Dropbox cloud storage.

“Technology can build bridges that shorten distances, making powerful connections between people faster and more accessible in their time of need.” “We are thrilled to be working with such a diverse group of people to help support the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Dr. Shaili Turner, chief health officer for Crisis Text Line.“Whether you're in class, at a family event, or lying awake at night, the power of a text conversation with another human being can give you solace in the anonymity and compassion without judgement. It takes real courage to ask for support.”

According to Crisis Text Line, over 70% of text messaging users are under the age of 25. While this text-based service can help people of all ages, it's specifically tailored for young people, providing on-demand support via text message.

If you identify with these films, are struggling to reconcile your online and offline identities, connect more deeply with friends and family, or simply need advice on how to get in touch with those close to you, you can ask for support by messaging Shout (UK), Crisis Text Line (US) or your location (Japan).

“We recognise the importance of achieving a healthy digital balance for overall mental wellbeing.” “Lenovo is committed to providing the best possible service to our customers,” said Emily Ketchen, global vice president and CMO, Intelligent Devices Group and International Markets, Lenovo. “With great advancements in AI and smart technology, now is the time to explore and experiment with ingenious new ways to leverage technologies like AI thoughtfully and responsibly for the benefit of society as a whole. Lenovo is uniquely positioned in this regard as it has the industry's broadest portfolio of smart technologies, from AI devices to IT solutions, that work seamlessly together to benefit society and future generations. Ultimately, through our 'Meet Your Digital Self' social experiment, we hope to spark meaningful conversations that contribute to the mental health of individuals and communities around the world.”

Chinatsu Hoashi, a Japanese Gen Z participant, commented: “Participating in the 'Meet Your Digital Self' social experiment has definitely strengthened my relationships with my family. Using technology and AI has allowed me to be more open and tell them things I've always wanted them to know. It has also had a positive impact on my mental health, as I can finally express feelings that I was too embarrassed to share with others.”

Comment from Oscar Jackson Walsh, a Gen Z participant from the UK“Participating in this social experiment has helped me become more confident and bridge the gap between my online persona. It has also allowed me to discuss my identity more openly with my family. Not only has this made me feel more loved and accepted, but it has also made me feel less lonely and anxious in my family space.”

Watch the “Meet Your Digital Self” video here: Source

About Work for Humankind

“Meet Your Digital Self” is the latest installment of Lenovo's Work For Humankind platform, showcasing how technology is bringing people together for the greater good. What began in 2020 as a way to step into the everyday lives of 10 young women driving change in their communities has evolved into a groundbreaking, multi-year movement showcasing the power of technology to inspire impact from Robinson Crusoe Island to cities and countries around the world. Work For Humankind delivers on Lenovo's vision of putting smart technology at the service of everyone through world-changing innovations.

Through “Meet Your Digital Self,” Lenovo is creating a new chapter in this inspiring campaign, aiming to spark meaningful conversations about the positive impact technology can have on societal well-being, including support from mental health professionals.

About Lenovo

Lenovo is a global technology company with $57 billion in revenue, ranked 217th on the Fortune Global 500, serving millions of customers every day across 180 markets. Focused on a bold vision to deliver smart technology for everyone, Lenovo has built its success as the world's largest PC company with a portfolio of AI-enabled, AI-enabled and AI-optimized devices (PCs, workstations, smartphones and tablets), infrastructure (servers, storage, edge, high-performance computing and software-defined infrastructure), software, solutions and services that span from pocket to cloud. Lenovo's continued investments in world-changing innovations are building a fairer, more trusted and smarter future for everyone, everywhere. Lenovo is listed on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong as Lenovo Group Limited (HKSE: 992) (ADR: LNVGY). For more information, visit https://www.lenovo.com and read the latest news on StoryHub.

LENOVO, THINKSTATION, THINKCENTRE, LENOVO LEGION, THINKBOOK, YOGA, THINKVISION, and THINKEDGE are trademarks of Lenovo. RAZR® is a registered trademark of Razor USA LLC. RAZR and RAZR-formatives are used with permission by Razor USA LLC. MOTOROLA, the Stylized M logo, MOTO, and the MOTO family of marks are trademarks of Motorola Trademark Holdings, LLC. DROPBOX is a trademark of Dropbox, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. ©2024, Lenovo Group Limited. ©2024 Motorola Mobility LLC. All rights reserved.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240528448000/en/

contact address

email address



Source link