AI Chatbot 'Sonny' Aids Student Mental Health in US Schools

San Francisco, USA - A startup named Sonar Mental Health has launched 'Sonny,' an AI-powered chatbot designed to support student mental health in US schools. Facing a shortage of counselors, school districts are turning to AI solutions like Sonny, which combines AI-suggested responses with human oversight. When students text Sonny, AI proposes answers, but a team of professionals in psychology and social work monitors the chats. Currently, Sonny is available to over 4,500 students in nine districts since January 2024. Sonar Mental Health clarifies that Sonny is not a therapist but a tool to connect students with appropriate mental health resources.