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AI: Between athletic self-optimisation and psycho-social support

Michaela Pfadenhauer (P7) was invited as a guest speaker at the “Health in Society” lecture series at the University of Vienna. In a dialogue-based format, she and sports scientist Assoc. Prof. Barbara Wessner discussed artificial intelligence both from their respective disciplinary perspectives. 

With her presentation “Communicative AI in the field of support: AI companion apps as omnipresent everyday companions”, Michaela Pfadenhauer offered a sociological perspective. The focus was on support concepts and AI companion apps, as well as the overlap between a trend towards “super-appification” and developers’ vision of creating an “all-in-one” solution for a wide range of mental issues. She also addressed the appropriation of professional competence in grief and everyday support into AI companion apps, as well as the central role of communication in this process. 

Barbara Wessner from the Centre for Sports Science and University Sports at the University of Vienna complemented this with a sports science perspective in her lecture “From Muscle to App – the smart exercise coach for self-optimisation into old age”. In the subsequent discussion, the diverse connections between physical self-optimisation and digital support became apparent. 

A recording of the event is available in German on the University of Vienna’s YouTube channel: KI zwischen sportlicher Selbstoptimierung und psycho-sozialer Begleitung | Uni Wien Live