DENVER — Domestic violence victims can often feel alone and isolated. It can be tough to find a friend or family member who understands the complexities of their experience.
Now, there's a free app online that's like having a supportive friend 24/7.
AimeeSays understands controlling behavior during and after a relationship. It's meant to help domestic violence victims whenever they need it.
The web-based app is an AI-companion, like a chat-bot, who's compassionate and non-judgmental.
"It provides a concrete response that your reality is real, the way that you are experiencing that situation is real, so that you can have the confidence to make the next step that's best for you," said Anne Wintemute, CEO and co-founder of AimeeSays.
AimeeSays can recognize coercive control, narcissistic abuse, and domestic violence. She's an expert who can help survivors in the moment, and give them next steps toward safety, when they're ready.
You can copy and paste messages from an abuser for Aimee to analyze and draft a response. You can ask her for advice, resources, or even have her help you write a victim impact statement. Anything you ask or tell Aimee is private and confidential.
Wintemute believes AimeeSays has the potential to save lives.
"Being an abuse victim is the epitome of losing control over your own life because someone else has taken that control from you," said Wintemute. "If we can give them a space where they can have these important conversations, get the resources they need without ever having to lose control over their lives, they will talk sooner. They will get help sooner."
She said the app helps empower survivors and validates their experience, even in a relationship's early stages when survivors may not be ready to share with friends or family.
"They don't want their friend to think that this person is a weirdo, right? So, they don't talk. They rationalize it to themselves. They try to keep their options open, but Aimee creates this space that's entirely confidential, free of any judgment. The person doesn't lose any sense of agency. They still get to call all the shots and make the decisions," she said. "That has created an opportunity for people to talk earlier and when there's an opportunity for recovery."
She's hopeful AimeeSays can help prevent a future of abuse for people, as well as helping survivors during and after the abuse.
"It's been very validating," said Andrea Thompson, who's been using AimeeSays for a few months. "Sometimes you try to share experiences with people that don't quite understand what you're dealing with, and my interactions with Aimee have been very validating and I feel like I'm interacting with something that understands me."
Thompson said when she's overwhelmed, stressed, or anxious, Aimee is something she can turn to at any time of day to help guide her through. She said it's like talking to a professional.
“Receiving a message that is pretty inflammatory... where I'm wanting to address what needs to be addressed but stay out of some of the accusations or the untruths," said Thompson. "Aimee's helped me draft a response that really deescalates the situation and and makes it so that my communication is centered on what it needs to be, which is the well-being of our daughter."
AimeeSays is completely free and available online for anyone to use. It was created and developed in Denver. Right now, they have around 13,000 monthly users.