What happened
Yokosuka City's public schools started using Tsunagari AI's generative AI listening service "Yokosuka AI Friend AI-chan" on November 9 as a consultation channel to prevent sexual harm to children.
Why it matters
The service is designed to support the child sexual violence prevention law taking effect December 25, which asks for channels children and parents find easy to use; the AI is independent from schools and accepts text via chat, email and social media, not just in-person or phone talks.
What to watch
The law takes effect on December 25.
WHO IT HITSSchool administrators and local education boards preparing for the December 25 law may look to this model, while children and parents in Yokosuka gain a 24/7 text-based consultation option.
Summaries like this, every morning.
The move comes as Yokosuka City's public schools prepare for the child sexual violence prevention law, which takes effect on December 25 and calls for consultation channels that children and parents find easy to reach. By adopting Tsunagari AI's "Yokosuka AI Friend AI-chan," the schools are turning to a service that is separate from the schools themselves and that accepts text through chat, email and social media, not only in-person or phone conversations.
The service is designed as a listening-type AI that does not impose answers but first receives the speaker's concerns, and it operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. It is available through LINE and web browsers, and the web version can be accessed from the one-device-per-student terminals at Yokosuka City public schools during available hours. When needed, the AI connects users to human consultation or Yokosuka City support desks.
Tsunagari AI says it will share operational status with Yokosuka City's public schools and work to create an environment where children and parents can consult with peace of mind. The company also plans to provide information to municipalities and education boards considering how to apply the law, explaining how existing AI consultation services can be used as one consultation channel.
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