$5M Funding Call Aims to Test If AI Chatbots Fail Users in Crisis
In one line: A funding call worth up to $5 million has opened to empirically test whether AI chatbots reliably support users during crisis situations.
Key points
- According to ICTworks, a research funding call worth up to $5 million has opened to evaluate how AI chatbots handle users in crisis.
- The focus is reportedly on assessing whether chatbots respond safely — or fail — when users are in vulnerable states such as a mental health crisis.
- It runs as an open application ("Apply Now") for research and development teams.
Why it matters
As chatbots increasingly serve as counseling and information channels, their safety in crisis moments has become a central issue for regulation and trust. This call is an effort to verify that safety through empirical data rather than vendor claims.