Spring ACT NewsBytes - October 2024
Rhiana Spring
"Europe's Best Impact Entrepreneur" 2023 by European Investment Bank. Connecting AI + human rights to end global injustices: springact.org | Google Women Techmakers Ambassador
Unveiling Sophia 2.0: A New Era of Compassionate Care for Survivors of Domestic Violence through our new Generative AI Sophia! ?
We’re excited to announce that Sophia, our chatbot dedicated to supporting individuals facing domestic abuse, has been upgraded with cutting-edge generative AI technology.
The latest version of Sophia boasts improved understanding of survivors’ needs, enabling compassionate conversations and tailored solutions through an expanded knowledge base. Sophia now also actively encourages feedback to continuously refine her assistance. This transformation is the result of a year of dedicated work from our technology and product teams, in collaboration with our valued partner, Ada. It reflects our unwavering commitment to providing empathetic and accessible support to victims and survivors in need, no matter where they are.
We understand that those affected by domestic abuse face complex challenges. That’s why we’re committed to breaking down barriers to support, whether addressing language differences, ensuring user-friendliness, or safeguarding privacy. With Sophia, we aim to deliver high-quality, up-to-date assistance for those in need.
?? WHAT’S BEEN HAPPENING…
?? September Awards
September brought wonderful news: our Chatbot Sophia was selected as a finalist for the UN’s Digital Game Changer Award for bridging inequalities through technology for a better world! We were also a finalist for the European Women in Tech Award for “Most Impactful Initiative”! We’re honoured by these recognitions and happy to share the joy with you all.
????Conference on Domestic Violence
We participated and presented Chatbot Sophia at the second National Conference on the Prevention of Domestic Violence in Switzerland, organised by the ZMH Center for Migration Assistance. It was incredibly motivating to be amongst so many organisations united in the fight against domestic violence in Switzerland. ????
?Mentoring Future Entrepreneurs
Our Founder and CEO delivered an inspiring talk at the “Female Founders: Tech Edition” event at the University of Bern, providing advice and insights into her entrepreneurial journey. Rhiana also presented - for the very first time ?publicly - her new app Comeback CatZ! This was met with great enthusiasm from the audience, proving the critical need for solutions to combat sexism and the imposter syndrome.
We urgently need your help to reach more people in need. By donating/becoming an official supporter (member), you can help us ensure that we safely bring Sophia to as many people affected by domestic violence as possible.
领英推荐
?? DID YOU KNOW?
Did You Know The Godmother of AI, Dr Fei-Fei Li?
As the world grapples with rapid advancements in AI and the specter of potential upheaval, Dr Fei-Fei Li is making waves through her work to ensure AI serves humanity in ethical and beneficial ways.
Driven by her passion for engineering, Dr Fei-Fei Li pursued a BA in Physics at ?Princeton University and a PHD in electrical engineering from Caltech. In 2009, Dr Li joined Stanford University as a professor, where her work led to one of AI’s most significant advancements: the creation of ImageNet. With millions of images scraped, labelled, and organised from the web, ImageNet was revolutionary in the industry due to the sheer amount of data it was built upon. Systems such as ChatGPT and similar data-driven algorithms are built upon the foundations of the large-scale data systems Dr Fei-Fei Li revolutionised!
Through her notable achievements, she made many international headlines and authored hundreds of scientific papers, amongst others blending science, ethics, and governance with her own personal experience. Named the “Godmother of AI”, Dr Fei-Fei Li has now combined all her knowledge and experience to build a $1bn startup in just 4 months.
? ACTivist of the Month: Caroline Noah
Fascinated by how words can cross cultural boundaries and how language connects people, our ACTivist of the month, Caroline Noah, has turned her interest into a strong commitment for social justice. Growing up in France, Caroline was immersed in a multicultural environment from an early age, fueling her passion for human rights and activism. She loves exploring how art can serve as a powerful tool for change.
Caroline is working with us as an ACTivist Translator, empowering Chatbot Sophia to support french-speaking communities. We had the pleasure of sitting down with her to discuss her path and vision for activism.
What inspired you to join Spring ACT as an ACTivist Translator? ?
Spring ACT’s mission to use technology to help vulnerable communities really hit home for me, especially because of my own experiences. As a child growing up, I witnessed domestic violence in my household, and it made me realise how important it is for people in tough situations to have access to support and information. Joining Spring ACT as an ACTivist Translator felt like a way to make sure that crucial information and resources reach people in a language they understand. It’s personal for me because I know how much I would’ve appreciated accessible resources back then. Being part of this process feels really meaningful and in line with my values.
In light of your experiences in social justice, how do you envision the future of activism?
I believe the future of activism will increasingly rely on technology, much like what we’re already seeing with Spring ACT. On a global scale, I think digital platforms will continue to connect activists across borders - it's something really exciting to think about and personally I see myself growing into this field of digital activism. Spring ACT’s work is a great example of this shift towards tech in promotion of human rights - and I’m excited to be part of it!
?? BOOK OF THE MONTH
It’s About Damn Time: How to Turn Being Underestimated Into Your Greatest Advantage
Being under-represented often means being underestimated - a reality Arlan Hamilton passionately addresses in her book. As a Black gay woman, Arlan opens up about how she charted her extraordinary journey from living on the floor of an airport to founding Backstage Capital, a venture fund dedicated to supporting underrepresented entrepreneurs. This book serves as both an inspiring memoir and a vital resource for aspiring entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds.