AI software for smart glasses wins £1m prize for technology to help people with dementia

The Guardian - World NewsCenter-LeftEN 3 min read 100% complete by Nicola Davis Science correspondentMarch 18, 2026 at 08:30 PM

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CrossSense, an AI software embedded in smart glasses designed to aid individuals with dementia, has won the £1m Longitude prize. The technology, featuring a chatty AI assistant named Wispy, provides prompts, feedback, and conversation to guide users through daily tasks and aid reminiscence. Developed by CrossSense Ltd, the software aims to help people with dementia maintain independence for longer, addressing the growing global concern of an estimated 150 million dementia cases by 2050. The prize money will facilitate bringing the product to market, with a smartphone version expected by the end of the year and the smart glasses available in early 2027. CrossSense plans to conduct in-home pilot testing in late 2026 before launching the product, which will be available via subscription and initially marketed directly to consumers before potentially becoming available through the NHS.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Julia Simner 40% University of Sussex 40% National Health Service (NHS) 40% Challenge Works 50% Nesta 50% Innovate UK 60% Alzheimer's Society 60% Wispy ×570% Szczepan Orlins ×380% CrossSense ×1090%

Keywords

dementia 100% smart glasses 90% artificial intelligence 80% crosssense 80% ai software 70% wispy 70% assistive technology 60% longitude prize 60% independent living 50% machine learning 40%

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Very Positive

Score: 0.60

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The Guardian - World News

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Center-Left (-0.40)

Far LeftCenterFar Right

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90%

This article was automatically classified using rule-based analysis. The political bias score ranges from -1 (far left) to +1 (far right).

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dementia smart glasses artificial intelligence crosssense ai software wispy assistive technology longitude prize independent living machine learning

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