RIKUbot
RIKUbot is an AI assistant chatbot that can discuss experiences related to violence and abuse in close relationships. It will be expanded later in 2026–2027 to cover other types of crimes as well. RIKUbot has been developed in cooperation between Victim Support Finland RIKU and Impact Tech Lab.
An English version of RIKUbot will be released later in 2026–2027. Right now, it is available in Finnish and Swedish.
What is the purpose of RIKUbot?
RIKUbot is designed primarily for people who have experienced violence or abuse in their close relationships. It offers a tool for reflecting on one’s own situation and finding useful information, especially in the early stages of seeking help. Its purpose is to:
- help identify violence and abuse in an intimate relationship and understand its effects
- give tips on how to safely leave an abusive relationship and support recovering from the experience
- help explore different safety-related issues
- offer information about services that may provide help and support
- complement human-provided services, for example when they are closed, during busy hours, or when talking to another person still feels too difficult
Some people may find talking to an AI assistant easier than talking to another person, especially early on when they might feel unsure or are just starting to wonder whether they might be experiencing abuse in their intimate relationship. In these cases it sometimes feels almost impossible to discuss the situation with anyone. RIKUbot uses an expert-curated knowledge base combined with large language models.
RIKUbot can also be used by professionals and people who are worried about a loved one possibly experiencing abuse. RIKUbot offers information and tips on how to support the victim and how to initiate a conversation regarding violence.
What is RIKUbot not suitable for?
RIKUbot never aims to replace support from another human being. It is designed to only complement professional support services. RIKUbot does not offer a direct connection to a human.
- RIKUbot cannot provide long-term, comprehensive psychosocial support. It can only carry out individual conversations with no option to continue the same conversation later.
- RIKUbot gives general guidance related to the criminal process, but it does not provide legal advice for individual cases. For that, we recommend using the RIKU legal counselling phone service.
- RIKUbot may not recognize an acute emergency, nor can it make a reliable overall risk assessment the way a trained professional specialized in intimate partner violence can. Although its knowledge base includes information about these issues, it may not always apply them correctly in complex situations. It can, however, help identify some risk factors in the relationship, which may help the user understand their overall situation better.
- RIKUbot cannot provide personalized, precise guidance about services. It gives general advice about available services and information on some key nationwide support options for people who have experienced violence.
- RIKUbot, as well as other technology-based support services, should not be used on devices where privacy may be at risk (for example in a controlling relationship where monitoring devices with spyware or other methods may occur). In such cases, it is recommended to use a safe device, such as a friend’s phone or a computer in a public library.
An AI assistant is a limited tool
Although RIKUbot relies on a closed knowledge base, it may sometimes retrieve information from a wrong context or misunderstand parts of the conversation. If its answer seems odd, try asking the question again in a different way. You can also ask followup questions if something is unclear or if a word or expression is difficult to understand.
RIKUbot is best suited for conversational reflection about your situation, not for retrieving precise information. AI can make mistakes, so important details, such as contact information for services or steps in the criminal process, should always be checked, for example, on RIKU’s or other organizations’ websites. RIKUbot’s information card function also contains a lot of useful information that has been comprised by expert professionals.
RIKUbot cannot understand a person’s overall situation and needs holistically like a trained professional can. It may not know the right questions to ask to understand the situation as a whole, nor can it recognize subtle cues or the dynamics between people in a relationship. It cannot replace the healing nature of a real human connection.