Research teaches you how to break down complex problems. It encourages a way of thinking that can be applied not only in your studies but in everyday life—whether it’s making decisions, solving conflicts, or addressing personal challenges."
- Howard student researcher Amir Ince
At just 22 years old, Amir Ince is already making waves in the world of artificial intelligence. A senior at Howard University majoring in computer sciences and mathematics, Ince is working with his professors to use futuristic technology to improve the lives of older adults now.
Ince has played an integral role in unique research that blends artificial intelligence (AI) and healthcare. Under the guidance of Dr. Saurav Aryal (B.S. ’18) and Dr. Legand Burge, two leading professors in the field, Amir joined a project aimed at improving cognitive health monitoring for older adults, particularly those at risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
As Ince explains, cognitive decline, particularly in older adults, often goes undetected until it’s too late to intervene effectively. Typically, cognitive assessments are performed once a year, but in many cases, a lot can change in that year. The question Dr. Aryal and Dr. Burge posed was simple but profound.
“Why wait until it’s too late to detect cognitive decline?”
The team set out to develop a technical solution that would allow for more frequent monitoring of cognitive health and alert healthcare providers to potential issues early on.
The solution? A kiosk-like device equipped with AI capabilities to administer regular cognitive assessments, using a simple survey called the "Functional Activities Questionnaire" (FAQ). This standardized tool is used to measure a person’s cognitive abilities based on their responses to questions about daily activities.
Amir’s role in the project was to design the interface for this FAQ tool — a key component of the data-gathering process. The team also used advanced artificial intelligence (AI) models, such as ChatGPT and Meta’s Gemini, to analyze the responses, allowing them to score and track changes in the users' cognitive abilities over time. Ultimately, the goal is to build a system that can assess the patient’s cognitive state, recognize any decline, and notify their healthcare provider for a full evaluation.
The project, still in its early stages, focuses primarily on Alzheimer’s disease, but the potential applications for other cognitive conditions are vast. The ultimate vision is for these devices—akin to Alexa in function—to serve as regular check-ins for elderly patients, keeping track of their cognitive health with the same regularity as a blood pressure check.
To make it even more user-friendly, Amir and his team are building a system that allows patients to interact with the device using voice and face recognition, making the experience as close to an actual doctor’s visit as possible.
Born in Guyana, Amir spent his first 10 years in the country’s rural countryside. It was a quiet, developing place — far removed from the bustling streets of the more developed island of Barbados, where his family relocated after his father, a mechanical engineer, received a job offer. The transition was jarring. Beyond the geographical shift, there was the cultural shift: new people, new accents, and a whole new way of life. Amir recalls the challenge of understanding the local Bajun dialect, the language spoken in Barbados, a hurdle that made it harder to integrate at first.
Despite these obstacles, Amir adapted, finding a sense of belonging on the island. His experiences in both Guyana and Barbados shaped the way he approached challenges: with patience, determination, and an eagerness to learn.
After high school, Amir, like many students, was uncertain about what the future held — especially in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. His mentors at the Caribbean Science Foundation, through the Science Programs for Island Scholars (SPISE), suggested he apply to top universities in the United States. Amir followed their advice, applying to 11 schools across the country.
The journey wasn’t easy. He faced rejection after rejection from many prestigious institutions, including Ivy League schools. Then, a fateful email arrived from one of those prestigious institutions, Howard University, informing him that he had been accepted — and awarded a merit-based scholarship. He could hardly believe it. This was a turning point that changed the trajectory of his life.
The impact of the AI project on Amir’s career was immediate. By the time he completed his sophomore year, his skills in software engineering and AI had sharpened considerably. Thanks to the mentorship he received from Dr. Aryal and Dr. Burge, Amir was able to break down complex problems into smaller, more manageable components — a critical skill in computer science.
His work didn’t go unnoticed. In the summer after his sophomore year, Amir landed his first internship working on Google’s Gemini product, the company’s answer to ChatGPT. The experience allowed him to gain hands-on experience with Google’s proprietary cutting-edge AI models, a privilege that few undergraduate students experience. The following summer, he joined Google again, this time working on the User Protection Team, using AI to classify content and detect violations of Google’s policies.
The research project also opened the door for Amir to pursue even more advanced AI models, such as Meta’s models, which his team used to fine-tune their assessments. Amir has passed the baton to two other students, Aayush Acharya, a senior computer science major, and Howard Prioleau, a graduate student, who are continuing the work he began.
Amir is adamant about the importance of research for undergraduate students.
“Research teaches you how to break down complex problems,” he said. “It encourages a way of thinking that can be applied not only in your studies but in everyday life—whether it’s making decisions, solving conflicts, or addressing personal challenges. Everything in life can be broken down into logical statements, and that’s what software engineering teaches you.”
For Amir, the rewards of research go beyond the intellectual satisfaction of solving problems. “Research also gives you the chance to make a difference,” he says. “To contribute to something new, something that could have a real impact on the world—that’s the ultimate reward.”
Article ID: 2186