FFG Proposal Sucess: Ethical AI Chatbots for Violence Prevention

CTSi launches FFG-funded project to explore ethical AI chatbots for violence prevention, led by Kevin M. Blasiak from CTSi//circle.responsibleComputing.

The Center for Technology-driven Social Innovation (CTSi) at TU Wien is pleased to announce the launch of a new exploratory project funded by the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG) under the Innovation START – Business Edition call. The initiative, titled “Exploratory Study on AI-Based Chatbot Interventions for Radicalization Prevention”, was initiated and is scientifically led by Dr. Kevin M. Blasiak, who leads the CTSi//circle.responsibleComputing.

The project addresses the increasing demand for proactive and scalable digital tools to prevent online radicalization and violent extremism. Conventional interventions often come too late—only once radicalization has significantly progressed. In contrast, this project explores the feasibility of an AI-driven chatbot that identifies and engages vulnerable individuals at earlier stages—before escalation occurs.

Based on the principles of Value-Sensitive Design and personalized persuasion strategies, the chatbot is envisioned to deliver empathic, adaptive, and ethically grounded conversations. The long-term goal is to digitally support human practitioners in violence prevention and create a scalable, cross-platform solution with broad societal impact.

CTSi serves as the scientific lead for the project, responsible for developing the conceptual framework and ensuring ethical alignment. The research investigates the chatbot’s technical, societal, and ethical feasibility. Stakeholder interviews, design workshops, and early low-fidelity prototypes will help define use cases, core values, and system requirements.

In addition to academic and societal objectives, the project also considers future implementation as a social impact venture. This includes mapping potential commercialization paths in collaboration with technology providers, prevention practitioners, and platform operators.

Amid growing concerns over AI misuse and digital manipulation, this project takes a forward-looking approach to responsible innovation—positioning ethical AI as a key tool for safeguarding online spaces.