Startup builds AI 'crash test dummies' to flag harmful chatbot behavior

Circuit Breaker Labs, a new AI safety startup, is building what it calls crash test dummies for artificial intelligence. The tools are designed to simulate interactions with AI chatbots and products to detect patterns that could cause psychological harm, especially to younger users.

The company's pitch centers on the idea that AI risks are not only far-off existential threats but also present, everyday harms affecting people's mental health today. By testing AI systems before they reach the public, Circuit Breaker Labs says it hopes to catch problematic behavior early.

The startup joins a growing group of companies focused on AI safety and content moderation tools aimed at making chatbots and AI products safer for families and vulnerable users.