Lauren Lee | June 25, 2026 - Atlanta, GA

The recent world premiere of the Opera Water Memory (Jala Smriti) at Georgia Tech’s Ferst Center for the Arts explored themes of memory, identity, family, and dementia. Water Memory (Jala Smriti) was awarded the Antinori Foundation Grand Prize in the 96-Hour Opera Project in June 2024.

For CIDI, it also represents a powerful example of how the arts can intersect with gerontology, accessibility, and assistive technology (including those integrating AI) to deepen public understanding of aging and cognitive disability.

At the heart of Water Memory (Jala Smriti) is a deeply personal story shaped by the lived experiences of multiple creative team members. Composer Kitty Brazelton described how the creative team did not initially set out to center dementia but rather arrived at it organically through conversation. 

“We didn’t really ‘choose’ dementia,” Brazelton explained. “We kind of fell into it.” 

What began as a short-form project prompt evolved as Brazelton and librettist Vaibu Mohan discovered a shared connection: each had cared for a loved one experiencing dementia. 

“We found out we had a common experience: a loved woman in our lives with dementia,” Brazelton said. “For me it was my mom. For Vaibu it was her grandmother.”

From these common experiences came the collaboration between Georgia Tech and the winners of the 96-Hour Opera Project. The opera engages deeply with questions surrounding artificial intelligence (AI) and its role in human care, but the work was created entirely without AI assistance. It includes an AI robot character MPO (Memory Processing Operator).

The creative team collaborated with specialists in gerontology and memory-assistance technology through several Georgia Tech research institutes, including the Center for Inclusive Design and Innovation (CIDI), the Institute for Neuroscience, Neurotechnology & Society and the A-I CARING Institute.

“Georgia Tech CIDI and its Tools for Life team served as subject matter experts and provided insights on dementia and assistive technology for the project,” says Sal Kibler, Tools for Life Gerontologist. 

That role reflects a central part of CIDI’s mission: connecting people with disabilities and older adults to tools and strategies that support participation, independence, and quality of life. 

Kibler said the CIDI team consulted with the composer and librettist to help ensure an accurate and thoughtful portrayal of dementia and the supports that can help individuals and care partners.  

Beyond the production itself, Kibler participated in a post-performance panel alongside other Georgia Tech experts, and Tools for Life displayed assistive technology from its lab in the venue lobby to help the audience better understand the kinds of supports available. “It was a unique and rewarding experience,” Kibler said, “demonstrating how the arts can effectively communicate complex topics and even serve as a meaningful intervention for individuals living with dementia.”

Kibler was especially appreciative of the opera’s ability to portray both the challenges and humanity of living with dementia.

“I am grateful to see this important topic explored through a different artistic medium,” she said. “The Atlanta Opera did an excellent job presenting a complex subject in a compelling and accessible way. The production highlighted key aspects of dementia—memory loss, wandering, the overuse of antipsychotic medications, and family conflict—while also capturing moments of beauty and joy.”

She hopes audiences leave with a deeper understanding of dementia and the importance of support, dignity, and openness.

“Dementia should not be stigmatized and persons with dementia should not become invisible,” Kibler said. “Families should communicate openly about the disease and its progression and find meaningful ways to connect with their loved one based on their interests and sources of joy. It is also important to recognize that a range of supports, including assistive technologies, can help.”

CIDI Executive Director Bill Curtis-Davidson agrees, adding. “Water Memory highlights a powerful opportunity for AI and assistive technology: to handle routine tasks so people can focus on what is deeply human. In the context of dementia, that means supporting care partners, strengthening relationships, and helping individuals maintain dignity and connection. This is exactly the kind of work we at CIDI aim to advance; where technology improves the human condition for everyone.”. 

Special thanks to the team who contributed to this effort, including Karen Milchus, Sal Kibler, Michelle Ramsey, and Tools for Life Advisory Council member and dementia expert Kim McRae. Together, their work helped show how technology, gerontology, and the arts can come together to make complex issues more visible, compassionate, and accessible.