Yichen Jin on AI and repair

How can AI help overcome repair barriers? 

Repair practices for everyday items, especially electronic products, have declined sharply over the past decades. While many products are technically repairable, repair often doesn’t happen in practice. Consumers face significant barriers that prevent them from choosing repair. From frustrating trial-and-error experiences to a lack of transparency and trust in professional repair services, repair often feels difficult and uncertain.

Most existing “design for repair” approaches focus on the technical side of product design. But repair is not only a technical challenge: it is also a behavioural one. How can we motivate consumers to repair their product, and how can we make the process easier and more trustworhty?

In this mini-lecture, Yichen Jin (PhD researcher at TU Delft) shares insights from her research. She explores how Artificial Intelligence (AI) could support both consumers and businesses in repair practices – from improving access to repair knowledge to making repair services more transparent and eficient.

In short: an exploration of how digital technologies could help bring repair back into everyday practice. Of course, there will be plenty of time to ask your pressing questions.

For more information:

Michiel Bakker
michiel.bakker@hetgroenebrein.nl