Circuit Breaker Labs hopes to make AI safer for your kids (and you)
Circuit Breaker Labs is developing AI agents designed to test large language models for psychological safety and harmful content. The startup aims to prevent AI-driven harm, particularly among young users, by simulating diverse interactions to identify safety vulnerabilities.
Why it matters
As AI integration grows, the need for robust safety testing to prevent psychological harm and misuse has become a critical priority for developers and regulators.
With all the talk about how AI might one day kill us all, it’s easy to forget that AI has already been life-threatening to some, not through bioweapons, but psychologically.
For example, Character.AI settled several wrongful death lawsuits earlier this year brought by families of underage users who died by suicide after interactions with its bots. Multiple families have also sued OpenAI over ChatGPT’s alleged role in their loved ones’ suicides and delusions.
Making AI safer across languages and cultures is the mission of Circuit Breaker Labs, one of TechCrunch’s 2026 Startup Battlefield 200 finalists. (Circuit Breaker will be pitching at TechCrunch Disrupt , which takes place at Moscone West in San Francisco from October 13-15, 2026.)
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