 | Task & Purpose |
 Image: Task & Purpose (taskandpurpose.com). What happened: The Air Force is using video segments with AI-generated characters, scenarios and presenters in its 2026 suicide-prevention training for Air Force and Space Force members, but two airmen say the approach feels cold or impersonal. The service says the videos are intended to support facilitator-led discussions, not serve as the training on their own. Key points: - The videos follow a fictional airman showing signs of distress. An Air Force member who works in mental health called the presentation cold and unnatural; an active-duty officer called it impersonal.
- The Air Force says mental health professionals and policy experts reviewed the training’s content, delivery and messaging. It says it is gathering feedback during implementation.
- A May 2026 GAO review of the earlier 2020–24 Air Force suicide-prevention training program found that the service had not fully evaluated its effectiveness. The review did not assess the new videos.
| Why this is important: For practitioners evaluating AI suicide-prevention materials, the use of artificial characters and two airmen’s negative reactions may inform questions about how the videos are received, but neither shows whether prevention improved. The GAO review found evaluation gaps in the earlier 2020–24 program; it does not validate the 2026 videos. |
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