Exploring artificial intelligence for the wellbeing of LGBTQ+ communities
Artificial intelligence is changing how people learn, connect, and seek support. But how well does it understand queer lives? Can AI chatbots like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini appropriately and safely serve LGBTQ+ communities?
gAyI is a Columbia University research initiative led by Drs. Charles Lea and Elwin Wu. Our mission is to explore how AI can be used responsibly and creatively to promote LGBTQ+ mental health and wellbeing. gAyI aims to serve social workers (service providers, researchers, students), members of the LGBTQ+ community, AI researchers, and the general public. gAyI works closely with a Community Expert & Accountability Panel (CEAP) composed of clinicians, researchers, and people with lived experience. Together, we’re reimagining what equitable, inclusive technology can look like.
What We’re Working On
1. Building Better AI Benchmarks
We are comparing and contrasting traditional machine-learning benchmarks of AI output quality with expert-informed, human benchmarks to ensure chatbot evaluations reflect real-world needs of LGBTQ+ individuals and communities, such as cultural consideration, tone of voice, information accuracy, and safety.
2. Studying How People Interact with AI
How do people interpret and trust chatbot responses? Using interviews, “think-aloud” sessions, and user testing, we examine how people engage with AI systems--identifying where AI supports, where it misleads, and how design choices influence perceptions of safety and credibility.
3. Making Findings Public
We’re building an open-access website featuring AI Chatbot “Report Cards.” These summaries will provide clear, evidence-informed evaluations of major chatbots on topics related to LGBTQ+ mental health—helping clinicians, educators, students, and community members make informed decisions about the AI tools they use.
Get Involved
Want to stay connected? Check back soon for our first chatbot “Report Cards” and ways to participate in the gAyI community. You’ll be able to explore findings, join discussions, and help shape the future of AI for LGBTQ+ wellbeing.
