A Japanese city is using AI to prevent youth suicides

According to a story in The Japan Times, the school will feed the AI information about 9,000 suspected bullying cases reported by Otsu's elementary and junior high schools between 2012 and 2018. This information will include details on the students involved -- their ages, genders, absenteeism records, and academic achievements -- as well as when and where any bullying incidents took place. "Through an AI theoretical analysis of past data, we will be able to properly respond to cases without just relying on teachers' past experiences," Otsu Mayor Naomi Koshi said, according to The Japan Times. The hope is that the AI will allow school officials to identify the bullying cases that are likely to escalate in seriousness so that they can intervene and diffuse the situation before it's too late. "Bullying may start from low-level friction in relationships, but can get worse day by day," an Otsu education board official said, according to The Japan Times.