How Birdie's building responsible AI for social care

AI. You can't be in a conversation for five minutes without it being brought up. It's exciting, transformative, and yes, everyone and their dog has been talking to you about their fancy new AI features.

But in social care, getting swept up by the hype can be risky. This is a busy sector. Who's got time to faff about with tools that are shiny but actually a bit useless? And more importantly, people's wellbeing is at stake. The wrong use of AI can lead to real harm.

So how do you make sure you do AI right? You need rules. And today, we're sharing ours.

The three-legged stool: Birdie's framework for responsible AI

Think of responsible AI like a three-legged stool. Each leg represents a critical rule, and they all connect to a solid core that holds everything together.

Rule 1: Solve real problems

Our AI has to solve a real problem. If it doesn't make a genuine, positive difference to your workday, we don't build it.

At Birdie, our ideas come from real conversations with care teams. Our AI team works with over 15 partners (care managers and coordinators just like you), speaking to them every single week. This means we build what actually matters, not what's just cool.

Rule 2: Always tested with you

We get a first version into the hands of our partners as quickly as possible. During the initial stage, every piece of feedback is vital. Our product and safety experts review it all together every two weeks, allowing us to spot what's not working and make improvements.

Transparency isn't optional for us, it's how we work.

Rule 3: Make it usable right away

Little training required. No three-hour onboarding session. No manual. If you need a manual, we've already failed.

The core: Safety at the centre of everything

None of these legs can stand without the solid core: safety. Our Data Protection Officer and Clinical Safety Officer are in the kickoff meeting for any new feature. Before we write a single line of code, we conduct a hazard analysis and start a clinical risk management plan.

Introducing SmartPlans: AI that gives you time back

Meet SmartPlans, Birdie's new intelligent assessment assistant. Assessments are the foundation of quality care, but right now they probably mean hours of writing up notes after client visits. SmartPlans gives you back that time without compromising on quality or safety.

How it works

In the client's home: Open the Birdie app, select the meeting type and client, and start your conversation. The recording continues securely even if you lock your phone, so you can give the person your full attention.

Back at the office: The transcript is waiting for you in the client's record. When you open the digital assessment, the AI suggests answers and shows you the exact quotes from the conversation that support them. You review and accept, so you're always in control.

Safety by design: For clinically critical questions like swallowing ability, the AI won't suggest an answer. Instead, it presents all relevant quotes, ensuring an expert always makes the key decision.

Built as one, works as one

Unlike standalone AI tools, SmartPlans works seamlessly with Birdie’s products and features. Conversations turn directly into care plans so no copy-and-pasting required.

Right now, we're working on giving early access to some of our partners. Stay tuned to find out how and when you can get access.

Stay in the loop with the Smarter Care Lab

This is just the beginning. At Birdie we're constantly developing new innovations to make social care smarter, safer, and more efficient. Want to stay updated on what we're building and how we're building it?

Visit the Smarter Care Lab to get the latest updates on our AI innovations and product developments.