Devices lacking emotional responses

In Quebec, the Canada Research Chair in Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Suicide Prevention, launched by TÉLUQ University, is not focused on machines in direct contact with at-risk individuals. Instead, the Chair's projects centre around decision support tools, explains Wassim Bouachir, a computer science professor at TÉLUQ and holder of the Chair.

Professor Bouachir emphasises that the focus is on projects where a human has the final say. This approach is in line with the stance of Hugo Fournier, president of Quebec's Association for Suicide Prevention (AQPS), who states that confiding in AI does not necessarily mean a person is more at risk of suicide.

If a loved one confides in AI about depression, Fournier suggests directing them to the right resources, such as the helpline suicide.ca, which provides year-round, 24/7 services for people who are suicidal and their loved ones. Fournier reminds that loved ones can confide in a specialized interventionist confidentially, rather than an AI.

Psychologist Catherine Langlois advises parents to keep open communication with their child if they are going through a tough time. She emphasises the importance of not hesitating to seek help if it's not immediately available. Langlois also highlights that a trained intervention support professional can provide empathetic human interaction, emotional understanding, and adaptively respond to complex social and psychological cues, which robots currently cannot fully replicate.

Laurent Charlin, a senior member of Mila and professor in the Department of Decision Sciences at HEC Montreal, shares a similar viewpoint. He suggests it's possible to implement safeguards in AIs to prevent them from discussing suicide with anyone, like a hypothetical AI named Gemini. Charlin implies that a company like Google might be able to implement such safeguards.

Jocelyn Maclure, a philosophy professor at McGill University, adds that generative AIs mimic understanding and empathy, but are "statistical tools without consciousness, emotion, or moral reasoning." Maclure's comments underscore the limitations of AI in providing the nuanced, emotional support that humans can offer during a suicide crisis.

While AI may not be a direct solution for suicide prevention, it can still play a supporting role. The Canada Research Chair at TÉLUQ University continues to explore ways AI can aid in suicide prevention efforts, always keeping the human element at the forefront. For immediate help and resources, suicide.ca remains a valuable resource for those in distress.