South Africa – Knowledge is Power, or KiP, is an artificial intelligence chatbot meticulously crafted to give users step-by-step emergency checklists, guiding them through distressing situations. The brainchild behind KiP, Shiraz Salejee, has articulated that the AI’s core strategy revolves around eradicating obstacles and barriers individuals commonly face during crises.
KiP boasts multilingual capabilities, enabling users to describe their circumstances and requirements, thereby allowing KiP to generate personalised checklists. These checklists are custom-tailored to encompass precise instructions regarding appropriate courses of action in diverse scenarios, whether natural calamities or crime-related incidents.
Furthermore, it encompasses safety measures, crucial contact information, and victim support resources, among other essential directives. The only downside to the chatbot is that it does not report crime-related incidents to the authorities.
“When you have a difficult situation that you’re facing, it might be the need to report a crime, it might be that there’s a service delivery issue that needs to be addressed in your area or even a very personal difficult situation … What you need to do, you go to the chatbot … and describe your situation the way that is comfortable for you. KiP will then give you a personalised checklist of steps and vital information you need to know on what you can do about the situation.”
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What Motivated the Idea for KiP?
KiP’s inception can be traced back to a deeply personal event Salejee went through. In a conversation with Salaamedia, Salejee revealed that he and his family experienced a harrowing incident involving a home invasion and armed robbery.
Reflecting on this traumatic event, Salejee described the aftermath as challenging, overwhelming, and confusing. During this period, he often needed help to retain crucial information due to the sheer complexity of the situation. This experience catalysed the development of KiP.
“In that moment of difficulty and panic, you don’t really have a clear head. Mike Tyson always said, “Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the face.” We always think we’ll be prepared, but when you are in the situation, it’s very difficult.”
The primary objective of KiP is to ensure emergency information becomes readily accessible, empowering the individual to seize control of the incident after the fact. According to their official site, KiP’s mission is to “make crucial crisis information available instantly so users are empowered to act decisively and safely”.
Currently, KiP is exclusively available online. Nevertheless, Salejee has confirmed plans to expand its accessibility by integrating it with WhatsApp, ensuring users can access it anytime.
