AI system cuts challenging behaviors in people with developmental disabilities by up to 78%, Seoul says

An AI-powered system that analyzes and helps manage challenging behaviors — including self-harm and aggression — among people with developmental disabilities has produced significant results, the Seoul Metropolitan Government said. The city pledged to develop and roll out a broader range of related policies.

Challenging behavior incidents at the city's Dobong lifelong education center for people with developmental disabilities fell 78 percent in the first half of this year compared with the same period last year — dropping from 181 cases to 39 — after the AI behavior analysis system was introduced there in 2023, the city said Saturday. At the Jungnang center, incidents declined 34 percent over the same period, from 124 cases to 82.

According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government, reducing challenging behaviors requires continuous observation of when and under what circumstances such behaviors occur, along with their surrounding context, to identify root causes. Care workers, however, face practical limits in documenting all of this manually.

The AI behavior analysis system addresses that gap by using the centers' existing camera infrastructure to capture footage of behavioral incidents and automatically log their type, frequency and duration into a database.

Behavior intervention specialists then draw on that accumulated data to analyze the causes behind each individual's challenging behaviors and develop tailored responses and treatment plans.

For example, if a person pulls at others to get what they want, specialists can teach alternative behaviors — such as using picture cards to make requests or raising a hand and waiting — to reduce the challenging behavior over time.

Guardians can also upload footage of challenging behaviors recorded at home on a mobile phone or other device to a dedicated platform to receive expert consultations. The city said the initiative is designed to help families and centers respond to challenging behaviors in a consistent way.

The city launched the program in 2023 at the Jongno and Dobong centers and has since expanded it to four locations, now also including the Jungnang and Dongdaemun centers.

Through the program, the city has so far supported 22 people with severe developmental disabilities, 32 care workers and guardians from 12 families. In the second half of this year, the system will be installed at two additional centers, including one in Nowon, bringing the total to six centers by year's end.

"The AI-based challenging behavior mitigation support program is helping reduce stress for individuals with developmental disabilities and easing the caregiving burden on their families, improving their overall quality of life," said Jeong Jin-woo, the city's welfare director. "We will continue to identify and implement a wide range of policies to lighten the caregiving load on families of people with developmental disabilities."