Artificial Intelligence is (Finally) Creating Safer Spaces for Women
The intersection of AI, technology and women’s safety can be terrifying. Automated password cracking, deepfake porn and voice synthesization, just for starters. But here at Street Smart Safety for Women, we’re also excited about the good news on the horizon: AI is also transforming women's safety in positive ways as well - unleashing solutions to keep us safer, both online and in-real-life - in ways that seemed impossible, even a year ago. Here are some of our favorite examples that illustrate how the power of AI is being harnessed to protect and empower women:
1. Dating App Bumble
Statistics don’t lie, more and more people (including professional women) go online for love. According to Pew Research, three-in-ten U.S. adults say that they’ve ever used a dating site or app.
Bumble, a popular dating app that was developed to keep women safer, is utilizing AI to enhance the safety of users in several different ways:
Preventing AI-enhanced profile images: Bumble just introduced a reporting option that allows users to easily report profiles if they suspect that the user is using AI-enhanced photos and videos.
Removing Deepfakes: Bumble is working behind the scenes with the nonprofit Partnership on A.I. (PAI), a coalition dedicated to the responsible use of synthetic technologies. Bumble is working with PAI’s framework to prevent the sharing of nonconsensual images and deepfake porn on their app.
Detecting and preventing scams. The platform employs machine learning algorithms to identify suspicious behavior patterns and fake profiles. The AI systems analyze user interactions, profile pictures, and language used in messages to flag potential scammers. This proactive approach helps in safeguarding women from falling victim to fraudulent schemes, ensuring a safer and more genuine dating experience. Bumble's AI also continuously learns and adapts, improving its detection capabilities over time, making it increasingly difficult for scammers to operate undetected.
Blurring Unsolicited Images: Private Detector, a feature within Bumble automatically blurs unsolicited nudes shared within a chat.
2. "aimiesays" App for Coercive Control Detection
The "aimiesays" app is one of our favorites. It’s an innovative tool designed to help women anonymously recognize and understand coercive control, an insidious form of domestic abuse and psychological control that can be so subtle that victims have difficulty recognizing it. The app uses AI to analyze the behavior patterns and interactions within a relationship. Users can input details about their partner's behavior, and the AI evaluates these inputs against known indicators of coercive control. It then provides feedback and resources, helping women to determine if they are in an unhealthy and controlling relationship. By offering this early detection, "aimiesays" enables women to seek help without feeling ashamed or embarrassed, and it empowers women to seek help and make informed decisions about their relationships before the situation escalates.
3. epowar App: Physical safety
The “epowar” app (currently only available in the UK) provides an innovative and proactive step forward in personal safety by using AI to detect physical threats. This app is designed uses artificial intelligence to monitor the user’s heart rate and body motion to automatically recognize signs of potential danger. For instance, if the app detects sudden movements or falls, it can immediately alert emergency contacts or authorities. It also has features like voice activation for emergencies, allowing users to quickly call for help if they feel threatened. The AI in epowar continuously learns from the user's behavior, refining its ability to detect anomalies and respond appropriately. This real-time monitoring and response system provides an added layer of security for women in potentially dangerous situations.
AI's role in women's safety is rapidly expanding, offering tools and solutions that were previously unimaginable. By integrating AI into apps like “Bumble”, "aimiesays," and “epowar”, technology is providing women with powerful tools to keep ourselves safer…even from AI. We’re thrilled to see these developments, and look forward to seeing more ways that AI and technology increase our safety – a welcome relief from the familiar weaponization of technology against women that’s been so prevalent.
