French Version of AinoAid™ Chatbot Launched at the University of Réunion

Chatbot launch event in La Réunion

25 November 2024, Saint-Denis, Réunion – The AinoAid™ chatbot was officially launched at the Law Faculty of the University of Réunion in a well-attended event coinciding with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. The gathering brought together an audience of about 100 people, including care professionals, students, and journalists, who showed great interest and engagement during the presentation.

Developed with the expertise of domestic violence professionals and survivors, AinoAid™ is an AI-powered chatbot designed to provide empathetic support, answer questions, and offer actionable recommendations. By leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and Natural Language Processing (NLP) technologies, AinoAid™ enables human-like interactions, making it a valuable resource for those seeking help and guidance. In this way, it can serve as a first step towards getting help in situations of domestic violence and accessing established support systems such as NGOs, police, social services, courts and medical care.

AinoAid™ is very interesting, particularly in the context of our care and support systems for victims of violence.

The launch featured a hybrid presentation, with CNRS researcher Thierry Delpeuch joining via video, complementing an in-person address by Margarita Vassileva of CNRS. A lively Q&A session followed the demonstration, highlighting strong interest in the chatbot's capabilities and its potential impact.

Margarita Vassileva says “According to the hospital managers who were present AinoAid™ is very interesting, particularly in the context of our care and support systems for victims of violence, and could complement our systems by providing victims with simplified access to essential information in complete confidentiality. This tool could also enhance the skills of our teams, and even be a training support tool.”

The event marked an important step in harnessing technology to address social challenges and empower individuals through accessible and effective tools. An “educational launch” of the chatbot is also planned for national educational establishments. This is an ambitious project covering the whole of Reunion Island, with the support of the Rectorate, which hopes to instil in young people a sense of morality within couples, in line with the values defended by the creators of the chatbot.

The La Réunion launch of the AinoAid™ chat was attended by an audience of including care professionals, students, and journalists.