Overview

This academic collaboration with a postgraduate student from the University of Birmingham focused on the intersection of artificial intelligence, ethical behavioural design, and wellbeing.

As organisations and individuals increasingly turn to digital tools for support with focus, stress, and screen habits, the need to ensure those tools are both effective and ethically sound becomes more urgent. The project investigated how emerging AI-driven features are being used to enhance user engagement and the role efficacy for a wellbeing tool.

Rather than exploring technology for its own sake, the research was grounded in a critical analysis of how users experience and respond to AI in emotionally sensitive contexts. The student explored how these systems might offer support for building healthier, more intentional digital habits, while avoiding manipulative design or over-automation.

Central to the project was the question of how to embed AI within wellbeing environments in a way that builds trust, supports autonomy, and aligns with human-centred values.

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Key Collaborators

Anoushka Pereira

“I am currently pursuing my MSc in Marketing at the University of Birmingham, with a focus on technology-driven wellbeing solutions in professional environments. My background includes undergraduate research in digital communications and practical experience in corporate marketing.

Collaborating with SMR particularly interests me because it offers the chance to apply academic theory to a real-world challenge with genuine social impact. I am passionate about digital wellbeing, and working with Social Media Resilience allows me to contribute to purposeful change, while expanding my knowledge of emerging AI applications for positive mental health outcomes.”

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