A South African woman, Leonora Tima, has developed an AI chatbot named Zuzi to support victims of gender-based violence, inspired by the brutal murder of her own family member. The app, called Gender Rights in Tech (Grit), offers a multifaceted approach to help users report abuse, securely store evidence, and access guidance, representing one of the first free AI tools created by African developers to tackle this pervasive issue.
The catalyst for Grit was a personal tragedy that struck close to home. In 2020, Leonora’s 19-year-old relative, who was in her final trimester of pregnancy, was killed and her body discarded on a highway near Cape Town. Disturbingly, the case received no media attention, reflecting how normalized such violence has become in South African society. This silence motivated Leonora to create a platform where victims could speak out without fear, leveraging her background in development work to address systemic failures.
To ensure the app met real needs, Leonora and her small team conducted extensive research in Cape Town’s townships, engaging with over 800 residents about their experiences with abuse and technology use. They discovered that many individuals, particularly women, were reluctant to seek help through official channels like the police due to distrust or fear of reprisal. Some had even faced legal threats after sharing their stories on social media. These insights shaped Grit’s user-centric design, focusing on building trust and providing accessible support.
Grit’s functionality is built around three key features that work together to offer comprehensive assistance. The home screen features a prominent help button that, when activated, records 20 seconds of audio and immediately contacts a trained operator at a rapid-response call center. This operator can dispatch help or connect the user with local organizations. Additionally, the app includes a secure digital “vault” where users can store encrypted evidence—such as photos, screenshots, and recordings—that may be crucial for legal proceedings, protecting it from loss or tampering.
The latest addition to Grit is Zuzi, an AI-powered chatbot designed to emulate a warm, trustworthy “aunt” figure. Developed based on community feedback, Zuzi provides a non-judgmental space for users to discuss their experiences and receive advice on accessing local support services. Interestingly, during testing, Zuzi has also been used by men, including those seeking help for anger management or as victims themselves, highlighting the app’s broader applicability.
User adoption has been promising, with Grit boasting 13,000 users and handling around 10,000 help requests in September alone. The app is free, though it requires an internet connection, and has received backing from major funders like the Gates Foundation and Mozilla. Leonora notes that while there have been instances of users testing the help button out of curiosity, the system has not been abused, indicating cautious engagement from the community.
Experts like Lisa Vetten, a specialist in gender-based violence, acknowledge the potential of technology in this field but warn against over-reliance on AI. Vetten points out that chatbots, while useful for information, cannot replace the empathy and complex understanding provided by human counselors. She stresses that survivors need to rebuild trust with people, not machines, underscoring the importance of integrating AI with human-led services.
Grit’s innovative approach has attracted international acclaim, with Leonora presenting it at the Feminist Foreign Policy Conference in Paris in October, where 31 countries committed to prioritizing gender-based violence in their policies. This recognition underscores the growing role of technology in social justice, though advocates like Lyric Thompson emphasize the need to address biases in AI by involving more diverse creators.
Ultimately, the long-term impact of such technologies hinges on inclusivity in their development. With women comprising only 22% of AI professionals globally, Leonora advocates for greater representation from women of color, the global south, and disadvantaged backgrounds. By ensuring that AI reflects a wider range of perspectives, tools like Grit can more effectively address the realities of those they aim to help, fostering a more equitable and supportive society.