This Agency Is Making an AI Friend for Kids Who've Lost Parents in Combat

When Mom or Dad spends long tours of duty far from home while serving in the military, their kids sometimes need extra understanding, encouragement and emotional support. If a parent dies in combat, these children can struggle mightily to cope with the loss and adjust to a new reality. According to a recent study, one-quarter of such kids contemplate suicide. Creative agency We Believers is stepping up with Ai Buddy, an artificial-intelligence system designed to assist youngsters caught up in such difficult situations. The technology features a kid-friendly interface with a cast of cute cartoon characters, including a teddy bear, a monkey and an oversized, cuddly purple beetle.