Facebook uses artificial intelligence to help prevent suicides

Facebook is using a combination of pattern recognition, live chat support from crisis support organizations and other tools to prevent suicide, with a focus on its Live service. There is one death by suicide every 40 seconds and over 800,000 people kill themselves every year, according to the World Health Organization. "Facebook is in a unique position -- through friendships on the site -- to help connect a person in distress with people who can support them," the company said Wednesday. The move by Facebook appears to aim to prevent the live-streaming of of suicides on the Live platform, which was launched in April last year, and allows people, public figures and pages to share live videos with friends and followers. The company said that its suicide prevention tools for Facebook posts will now be integrated into Live, giving people watching a live video the option to reach out to the person directly and to report the video to the company.