ERZ-SmartAssistant

Description

This project examines the feasibility of implementing an AI assistant (Smart Assistant) within a recycling app. It was carried out on behalf of Entsorgung + Recycling Zürich (ERZ) and forms part of a municipal strategy to promote the circular economy. Within a prototypical application scenario, the suitability of image recognition and dialogue-based user interaction for later productive use was evaluated.

The focus lies on supporting decision-making in the disposal or reuse of furniture items. Users upload an image of a piece of furniture that they wish to dispose of or that shows a defect. Based on automatic recognition and condition assessment, the assistant guides users through suitable courses of action via dialogue and applies a persuasion strategy to encourage more sustainable alternatives to simple disposal.