HiBFF Launches V2.0 AI Companionship Platform with Integrated Ethical Safety Architecture
On January 16, 2026, HiBFF announced the deployment of HiBFF V2.0, an innovative artificial intelligence companionship platform designed to address rising safety concerns in the realm of digital companionship.
Background and Development
The launch of V2.0 follows an extensive multi-year pilot phase (V1), which focused on analyzing user-AI interactions and developing preventative safety protocols. This release comes at a time of increasing scrutiny regarding the emotional impact of AI, particularly as many users turn to general-purpose large language models (LLMs) for support during mental health crises, often lacking adequate safeguards.
Key Features of HiBFF V2.0
The V2.0 platform introduces a “Safe-by-Design” framework aimed at providing digital companionship while strictly maintaining non-clinical boundaries. Key features include:
- Consent-Based Triage: The system utilizes weighted pattern recognition to detect user distress. Instead of employing coercive measures, the platform offers a non-clinical referral to human crisis experts, activated only when the user indicates receptiveness to external support.
- 90-Day Emotional Transition Protocol: To mitigate risks associated with digital attachment, HiBFF offers a complimentary 90-day “stepping down” period for users who choose to close their accounts, facilitating a gradual transition.
- Data Autonomy: In compliance with SOC 2 Type 2, GDPR, and COPPA standards, the platform features a “Data Moat” option, allowing users to permanently delete their entire conversation history with a single action.
Research-Driven Development
The V2.0 platform is the culmination of thousands of hours spent analyzing interactions during the HiBFF V1 testing phase. This research-intensive approach refined the AI’s capability to recognize “coded language” associated with isolation and hopelessness, enabling earlier and more subtle safety nudges.
Industry Implications
The AI industry finds itself at a crossroads concerning user safety and emotional responsibility. By constructing V2.0 from the ground up with a focus on ethical boundaries and user autonomy, HiBFF strives to provide a structured environment for AI companionship that prioritizes safety over rapid scaling.
About HiBFF
HiBFF specializes in ethical AI companionship, developing personalized, animated digital companions (AVAs) geared towards the B2B, B2C, and bereavement support sectors, with a strong emphasis on data privacy and non-clinical emotional support.
