BLOOMINGTON — A new documentary is set to premiere this Saturday, spotlighting groundbreaking research at Indiana University (IU) that utilizes artificial intelligence (AI) to support Bloomington residents living with dementia.
Titled Remembering the Future with IRIS, the film is the master’s thesis project of Jack Bassett, a May 2025 graduate of IU’s Media School. The documentary, filmed at Jill’s House memory care community, focuses on the human side of AI innovation, capturing moments where technology helps to spark memory, purpose, and joy.
IRIS: The Interactive Robot
The film centers on IRIS (Interactive Robot for Ikigai Support)—an interactive robot created by IU researchers at the Luddy School in partnership with the Toyota Research Institute.
IRIS uses AI, natural language processing, and programmed prompts to engage seniors in conversation, encourage storytelling, and provide companionship. By sparking memory recall and everyday dialogue, IRIS is designed to help residents rediscover their “Ikigai,” a Japanese concept meaning “reason for being.”
“The documentary not only showcases IU’s innovation but also follows Bloomington residents living with dementia—whose voices and experiences are too often overlooked,” said filmmaker Jack Bassett. “Their stories, and their interactions with technology like IRIS, are important for our community to see and to talk about.”
Premiere Details
The public is invited to attend the free premiere screening:
- When: Saturday, October 4th at 7:00 p.m.
- Where: Fine Arts Building, Room 102, on the IU Bloomington Campus.
The screening will be followed by a Q&A session with the researchers involved in the IRIS project.
The filmmaker is also offering availability for interviews with himself, the Luddy researchers, and documentary participants. The IRIS robot is also available for content creation if needed.
