How suicide prevention is getting a boost from artificial intelligence: Exclusive

Suicide prevention is getting a boost from artificial intelligence. The Trevor Project, the world's largest suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for LGBTQ youth, has launched a "Crisis Contact Simulator" to help train counselors and prepare them to support youth in crisis. Developed in collaboration with Google, the first-of-its-kind technology is an AI-powered counselor training tool that simulates digital conversations and allows trainees to practice realistic conversations with youth personas. "Riley," the organization's first Crisis Contact Simulator persona, emulates messages from a teen in North Carolina who feels anxious and depressed. In addition to Riley, the organization is currently developing a variety of personas that represent a wide range of life situations, backgrounds, sexual orientations, gender identities and risk levels.