AI Listens for Hidden Signs of Suicide Risk — And It Might Save Lives

Researchers have trained AI to detect suicide risk just by listening to someone’s voice, turning everyday speech into a powerful mental health signal. By analyzing over 2,600 features in voice recordings from pitch and loudness to even musical intervals neural networks predicted future suicide deaths with up to 85% accuracy when the recording was from the year before the tragedy.

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Unlike traditional surveys people might downplay or fake, this tech picks up on the subtle emotional fingerprints in how we speak. Still, scientists stress it’s no replacement for human support and therapy. It’s eerie, yes — but also astonishing. One voice, one recording, could lead to help before it’s too late.