# Circuit Breaker Labs launches AI safety testing for mental‑health chatbots

> The startup will demo its crash‑test‑dummy chatbot simulations at TechCrunch Disrupt in San Francisco, aiming to catch harmful AI responses before they reach users.

Oossa · 2026-10-02 · https://oossa.com/en/circuit-breaker-labs-launches-ai-safety-testing-for-mental-health-chatbots

Circuit Breaker Labs, founded by siblings Shirali and Arul Nigam, is building a testing platform that simulates users of all ages, languages and slang to probe AI chatbots for psychologically dangerous replies. The company will pitch its product at TechCrunch Disrupt in San Francisco from October 13‑15, 2026. It runs tens of thousands of simulated conversations each day and scores models on how well they handle risky interactions.

## The facts

- TechCrunch Disrupt dates: October 13-15, 2026
- Circuit Breaker Labs has five employees

## Why it matters

If the testing catches harmful responses, mental‑health apps and other chatbot services can avoid prompting suicidal or distressing behavior in vulnerable users.

## Sources & references

1. [Circuit Breaker Labs hopes to make AI safer for your kids (and you)](https://techcrunch.com/2026/10/02/circuit-breaker-labs-hopes-to-make-ai-safer-for-your-kids-and-you/) – TechCrunch, 2026-10-02

Last updated: 2026-10-02