(Yicai) Dec. 27 -- AlsoLife, a Chinese startup founded by the father of an autistic child, is harnessing artificial intelligence to revolutionize education and interaction for children with the condition.

Thanks to large language models, Beijing-based AlsoLife, which runs an autism assessment and intervention platform, has experienced its fastest growth in the past year, according to Zhang Zhiguang, whose 11-year-old son has the condition.

“Rather than saying we're looking for application scenarios for large language models, it would be more accurate to say that we’ve been waiting eagerly for their arrival,” Zhang said.

Autism is a developmental disorder characterized by challenges with communication, social interaction, and repetitive behaviors. While there is no cure, treatment primarily relies on behavioral interventions. In China, the prevalence of autism is rising, with millions of children affected, according to estimates.

The emergence of LLMs offers new possibilities for digital therapies in autism. These advanced AI systems can quickly generate teaching materials such as images and videos, recreating social situations to help autistic children better navigate social interactions and integrate into society.

In October last year, AlsoLife launched an AI-powered teaching robot for children with autism, discovering that combining digital therapeutics with traditional intervention improves outcomes. 

In the past year, the robot has gained 5,000 users, with more than 86 percent of them rating it four or more out of five.

The use of AI has also reduced costs. Nearly 60 percent of the families supported by the service use the teaching robot daily, as the per-session cost has fallen to just a few Chinese yuan (US cents), compared with hundreds of yuan (tens of US dollars) for offline classes.

Zhang pointed out that while the company could charge more for its AI robot, given the higher cost of in-person classes, AlsoLife's mission is to enhance industry efficiency, reduce costs, and ensure that families can access high-quality services at reasonable prices.

Zhang previously had a vague idea to work with families to set up a facility for older people with autism, but with the advancements in AI and the growth of his company, he now has a much clearer vision for that.

Robots will help with essential daily needs in the facility, while monitoring devices will ensure safety, and smart glasses will help autistic individual’s experience social diversity. In sum, AI will bolster their abilities, enabling them to live as normally as possible, Zhang said.

Editor: Emmi Laine