AI Safety Protocol

1. About Seth ◎

Seth is an artificial intelligence (AI) companion integrated into the EmpathySystem.ai platform. Seth is powered by large language model technology and is designed to provide general guidance, resource suggestions, encouragement, and document assistance to participants.

Seth is not a human being. Seth is not a therapist, counselor, medical professional, legal advisor, or licensed healthcare provider. Seth cannot diagnose conditions, prescribe treatments, or provide professional advice of any kind.

The ◎ symbol identifies Seth throughout the platform.

2. Crisis Detection & Response Protocol

EmpathySystem employs a multi-layer safety system to detect and respond to crisis situations:

• Automated Detection: Our safety system continuously monitors conversations for indicators of crisis, including expressions of self-harm, suicidal ideation, domestic violence, child safety concerns, and other urgent situations.
• Immediate Resource Display: When a potential crisis is detected, Seth immediately presents crisis hotline information and encourages the participant to contact professional help.
• Case Manager Notification: Crisis indicators are flagged for review by the participant's assigned case manager (where applicable), who can provide human follow-up.
• Policy Enforcement: A five-layer policy engine (covering privacy, truthfulness, dignity, safety, and equity) validates all AI responses before they are shown to participants. Responses that fail safety checks are blocked and replaced with safe alternatives.
• Professional Referral: For topics involving medical, legal, or mental health concerns, Seth always recommends consulting with qualified professionals.

3. Crisis Resources

If you or someone you know is in crisis, please contact one of these resources immediately:

4. Suitability for Minors

Seth and the EmpathySystem.ai platform may not be suitable for all minors. Users between ages 13 and 17 should use the platform only with the consent and oversight of a parent, guardian, or authorized case manager. Children under 13 are not permitted to use the Services.

Seth is not designed to serve as a substitute for parental guidance, school counseling, or professional youth services. If a minor is in crisis, please contact the resources listed above or a trusted adult.

5. Human Oversight

EmpathySystem is designed with a "human-in-the-loop" architecture:

• Seth provides recommendations and information only — it cannot take actions, make decisions about eligibility, or modify participant records.
• Case managers maintain oversight of AI-suggested interventions and can review all AI interactions.
• Participants can request human-only support at any time.
• All AI outputs include provenance tracking so the source and reasoning can be reviewed.
• Organization directors have access to compliance dashboards that monitor AI decision quality and safety metrics.

6. How to Report Concerns

If you have concerns about Seth's behavior, safety, or any AI-related issue:

• In-App: Use the feedback button after any Seth response to flag a concern.
• Email: Contact safety@empathysystem.ai with details of your concern.
• Case Manager: Speak with your assigned case manager, who can escalate concerns internally.
• Mail: EmpathySystem Inc., Attn: AI Safety, PO Box [TBD], California, USA

All safety reports are reviewed within 24 hours. We take every report seriously and will respond to confirm receipt and any actions taken.