Suwon City Expands AI-Based Empathetic Conversation Service to Middle-Aged Adults

Suwon City in Gyeonggi Province has expanded the target group for its generative artificial intelligence (AI)-based empathetic conversation service, 'JUMP FRIENDS,' to include middle-aged adults at risk of isolation and withdrawal.

Suwon City announced that it has broadened the scope of support so that more citizens can conveniently use the AI empathetic conversation service.

JUMP FRIENDS (www.jumpfriends.org), which was introduced for the first time among local governments nationwide, is a service that utilizes generative AI to provide 24-hour empathetic counseling that feels similar to human conversation for high-risk, isolated adolescents and young adults. The service began in March.

Previously, the service was available to adolescents and young adults aged 14 to 39, but as of December 22, the eligible age group has been expanded to include anyone aged 14 or older. Any citizen aged 14 or above who is experiencing isolation or withdrawal can now access the 24-hour JUMP FRIENDS AI empathetic conversation service.

Suwon City Hall

JUMP FRIENDS approaches individuals who find face-to-face interaction difficult by providing psychological counseling services both online and offline in a non-face-to-face format. By analyzing conversation content and patterns, the service can detect early emotional risk signals such as loneliness, anxiety, and depression, and identify users at risk of isolation or withdrawal.

Depending on the results of this screening, Suwon City connects individuals to professional psychological counseling (face-to-face, phone, online, etc.) provided by organizations such as the Suwon Youth and Young Adult Foundation.

Adolescents and young adults aged 14 to 39 can continue to apply for professional psychological counseling through JUMP FRIENDS as before, while those aged 40 and above can apply for counseling regarding their children. If citizens aged 40 or older wish to receive counseling for themselves, they should directly contact the Suwon City Happiness Mental Health Welfare Center at 031-253-5737.

A Suwon City official stated, "We recognize social isolation and withdrawal as lifelong issues and determined that there is a strong need to provide counseling services for middle-aged and older adults, which is why we expanded the target group." The official added, "We hope that JUMP FRIENDS will become an online conversation companion that citizens can turn to at any time."