How a Swiss Innovation Becoming a Global Digital Lifeline

Chatbot Sophia empowering people facing domestic abuse – safely, privately, and globally.

 

Did you know a Swiss innovation is transforming the way service is delivered worldwide to the people affected by domestic abuse? 

For people facing abuse finding help is often hard, hidden behind stigma, fear, or geography. Our AI-powered digital companion, Sophia, changes that by empowering survivors with 24/7 confidential access to information, rights, and local resources. 

She serves as a global digital lifeline, leading a digital revolution that helps people find a way out from abuse, without leaving any digital trace. Whether it’s a woman in Bratislava seeking legal guidance, a student in Manila looking for protection services, or a mother in Lima needing to document potential evidence, Sophia meets them right where they are, safely, privately, and in their own language.

Sophia, More than A Tech

Technology is often seen as cold or distant. Sophia was designed to be the opposite: one that listens first, empowers compassionately, and protects in a dignified way.

Sophia is more than code – it is a commitment. It is a voice that answers when someone dares to whisper ‘help’.

These were the words of H.E. Peter Nelson, Ambassador of Switzerland to Slovakia, at Sophia’s recent launch in Bratislava in October 2025.

His reflection captures the heart of Sophia’s mission and of Switzerland’s continued commitment to international cooperation. 

Embodying Swiss Values in Solving a Global Crisis

Across every launch, from Eastern Europe to Southeast Asia, Swiss embassies and partners have helped localise Sophia, ensuring that she reflects the realities, resources, and languages of the communities she serves.

Developed by the Swiss non-profit Spring ACT, Sophia embodies Switzerland’s dual strength of technological excellence and humanitarian vision, turning innovation into protection for those most at risk. Today, she speaks over 17 languages, reaches survivors in over 172 countries, and continues to grow through powerful partnerships.

The work of Spring ACT is a testament to the transformative power of innovation and the Embassy is privileged to be part of this impactful partnership which has a tangible impact on the communities.

– Celine Fürst, Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Switzerland to the Philippines.

Through each local partnership to enable local resources for people to seek help in their native language — in Peru, China, the Philippines, Moldova, and most recently Slovakia — Sophia strengthened Switzerland’s commitment in innovation for global safety and solidarity. Each launch is united by one shared belief: that safety and dignity should never depend on geography. 

A Global Solution Rooted in Local Realities 

Built by a diverse international team of technologists and human-rights advocates, every feature of Sophia is designed with Survivors’ and experts’ input, which gets further refined in each new expansion. A rigorous integration takes place with inputs from survivors, advocates, and local partners of those countries. In Moldova, where Sophia launched in March 2025 for example, Angelina Zaporojan, Director of the Women’s Law Centre, remarked:

Sophia is an example of how technology can be supportive.

Lawyer Arina Turcan, who tested the chatbot with groups of survivors, noted how crucial Sophia’s Digital Safe – a feature that allows digital storage of potential evidence – has become:

It empowers women to feel believed when they report abuse — even in cases of psychological violence that are so hard to prove.

In every country, these partnerships show that the chatbot’s strength lies in being both universal and personal: a global platform rooted in local realities. Each collaboration reflects a uniquely Swiss approach — combining precision and compassion, technology and trust — to create sustainable change that transcends borders.

As Natalie Frei, Head of Culture & Media, a.i, Embassy of Switzerland in China, put it:

We see a lot of potential in the Sophia Chatbot as an innovative technology that can create a larger impact in ending domestic violence. Sophia is easily scalable and adaptable to local contexts, which facilitates its improvement

An AI for Good: Tried and Tested Worldwide 

What began as a Swiss idea has now become a global movement. In just four years, Sophia has held over 43,000 conversations across 172 countries, earning recognitions like the United Nations AI for Good Impact Award, Swiss Youth and Future Prize from the Federal Councillor Cassis and more.

Sophia’s journey from Switzerland to Peru, China, the Philippines, Moldova, and Slovakia reflects not only the reach of Swiss innovation but also its values: solidarity, trust, and respect for human dignity.

As the world marks the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, let Sophia’s journey remind us that technology can be more than efficient; it can be compassionate, safe and universal. 

As Guido Beltrani, Ambassador of Switzerland to the Republic of  Moldova opined during the launch event in Moldova –

Unfortunately, gender-based violence is a widespread phenomenon, and such innovative solutions are needed to provide additional essential support to victims.

Amidst rising global tension and resource limitation, let solutions like Sophia fill the gap and connect the world. She’s a force for good from Switzerland to the world: to create a world free from abuse. All that people need to remember is –

Sophia.chat : A Swiss idea protecting lives, one conversation at a time.

– Written by Mustapha Lawal