Lifelong Learning Companion: Development Milestones in an AI-Based, Cross-Platform Companion App for Lifelong Learning Optimization

Online platforms have revolutionized the accessibility and delivery of educational content, enabling individuals to engage in continuous learning at their convenience. This paper gives an overview of the relevant factors of lifelong learning and elaborates on the basic framework idea for the development of an AI-based, Platform-independent cOmpanion-app [for] Lifelong Learning-Optimization (APOLLO). This initiative is part of a 36-month funding project generously supported by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and overseen by the German Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB), under the innovation competition INVITE funding guideline. In today's knowledge society, the necessity for lifelong learning can be taken for granted. Hence, everybody will be facing the challenge of managing, organizing an optimizing the individual lifelong learning journey. Apart from teaching the essential methodological skills and abilities to enable lifelong acquisition of knowledge and skills, more and more guidance is needed to get an overview of the overabundance of learning content from diverse suppliers. The aim of the APOLLO project is to accompany people on their education and training path and to support them in the selection of individually tailored training measures as well as in the organization of their lifelong learning. It further highlights the developmental achievements of this project.