‘AI bodyguard’ wins backing of Silicon Valley

A British firm developing an ‘AI bodyguard’ to keep women safe on the streets has secured the backing of a Silicon Valley multi-millionaire.

Founded by three students from University College London, eNOugh has received funding from A* – a venture capital firm set up by Kevin Hartz – in a £2 million fundraising.

Hartz is the founder of ticketing platform Eventbrite and has backed Airbnb and the Pinterest website.

eNOugh is developing a badge that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to tell if its wearer is threatened and alerts an operator to contact police.

It also streams live footage and the wearer’s location, and records evidence through an in-built camera and microphone. One of the firm’s co-founders Ina Jovicic, 27, developed the idea after being robbed by four men in central London in 2021 and was dragged into the street.

She said the AI would ‘learn to distinguish between arguments and more dangerous behaviour’ via cues including the direction of the camera, sudden movements and voice patterns. The more badges deployed, the more ‘precise’ the AI would become, she added.

A launch of the badges is planned for the second quarter of next year at a price of £99 and with an £8 monthly subscription.