An AI version of companionship
Patricia McAlernon
We are living in challenging times with AI and it is almost impossible to avoid using this technology in our daily lives. There is a concern that society is becoming too reliant on AI and our ability to think for ourselves is diminishing.
It is thought that an overload of AI technology may also be detrimental to our mental health, however software based on AI has now been developed which can be used to improve our mental wellbeing. In September this year a chatbot called Companion will be launched which is referred to as a gentle AI designed to complement but not replace professional mental therapeutic support.
Companion, designed by a company called Nordic AI based in Norway, is a software tool based on AI which may help support and improve your mental health. Sebastian Knorr, CEO and the Founder of Nordic AI discovered AI after experiencing stress through work and set out on a journey to develop the technology to help other people.
The AI chatbot will not tell you what to do or provide immediate solutions to your mental health issues. It will however ask you questions which will give you an insight into your emotions and how they could be managed to improve your overall mental wellbeing. Your personal data is encrypted and stored securely in the cloud within Norway which is protected by Europe’s safest firewall providing maximum global security. The user can also access their data safely across multiple devices without compromising their privacy.
Companion not only records your thoughts in your own words everyday but tracks your emotional journey over a period of time. This method of journaling combined with AI will identify patterns which may give you insights into what drives your emotions and affects your overall mental health. Through journaling with Companion you can be empowered to discover patterns which are normally hidden using conventional journaling techniques such as personal diaries. It does not direct you but guides you based on the information you provide.
Unlike AI models which can learn from negative moods and then produce more mental negativity, Companion is built to promote positivity, self-awareness and healthy emotions. Other AI models lack emotional intelligence but Companion is built on compassion, humility and respect for your privacy. Talking openly and freely to Companion may make you feel fully understood for the first time. It listens without judgement and continually encourages you to reset your mood to a positive one you had in the past.
The purpose of Companion is not to fix your mental health but to enable you to highlight the mental strength you showed in the past and to identify negative mood trends and what caused them. To get started on your journey with Companion go to http://Com2.ai to receive notifications and be ready for the official launch in September.