Hippo T&C, an AI-based Digital Therapeutics Research Company, Launches Mental Health App 'WithBuddy'

On the 18th, Hippo T&C (CEO Tai-Myoung Chung), an AI-based digital therapeutics research company, announced the launch of its proprietary app WithBuddy, designed to promote mental health.

WithBuddy helps users manage their mental health through various missions developed based on cognitive-behavioral therapy. The app collects data accumulated from mission performance and uses AI to analyze the user's psychological state. A dog character named Buddy interacts with the user based on the analyzed data, engaging in conversations and recommending daily missions, offering a solution to support the mental well-being of modern individuals burdened by daily life.

The app also provides meditation and deep-breathing content for users' psychological stability. Both types of content were developed with expert consultation and are structured in stages, allowing users to choose their preferred difficulty level.

The meditation content includes three categories: meditation for depression, meditation for anxiety, and meditation for stress. Users can choose from a variety of meditations, including simple and easy videos, recovery meditations, and guided imagery, tailored to their personal preferences.

The breathing content is designed to assist with healing, stress relief, and autonomic nervous system regulation. By learning various breathing techniques, users can alleviate stress and achieve mental relaxation. Both types of content are presented in short videos, each less than 10 minutes long.

The "Consult with Buddy" feature is a real-time mental care service using an AI counselor that operates without time and space constraints. Users can engage in AI chat counseling at any time, and the AI provides real-time feedback based on the counseling information.

Completing daily missions rewards users with coins, which can be used within the app. These coins can be spent to buy items such as food to interact with Buddy and enhance affection. The coins can also be used for room decoration content, providing continuous motivation for the user.

Three types of surveys, each taking less than 10 minutes to complete, allow users to check their emotional state. After analyzing the psychological state, a mood summary is provided, showing levels of depression, anxiety, and stress. Through the variety of content that can be utilized in a short time, users can create a personalized mental care plan.

A representative from Hippo T&C stated, "We aim to alleviate concerns about data privacy by offering a secure user environment through the use of the latest encryption technology."

Hippo T&C signed an MOU with the Samsung Medical Center's Digital Therapeutics Research Center on the 27th of last month. The company plans to enhance the usability of its mental health content in response to the growing demand in the mental health market and officially begin service operations.

Original Source : etnews(https://www.etnews.com/20240913000206, 김현민 기자)

This article is a translation of a Korean original into English.