This AI for Good initiative addresses Gen Z's mental health challenges in the digital age, highlighting the disconnect between their online and offline identities. Lenovo research shows 67% of Gen Z feel disconnected, leading to increased loneliness and anxiety. Nearly half (49%) find it easier to express themselves online, while 60% seek more meaningful face-to-face interactions with loved ones.

Using Lenovo’s AI technology, we created lifelike avatars of Gen Z's online personas, enabling real-time, unscripted conversations with family members. Launched in May 2024, the initiative partnered with mental health charities in the UK, USA, and Japan to provide 24/7 support. It gained over 300 media placements in its first days, with ongoing analysis of paid media results. The campaign included docu-style films, social content, and press materials.

Results – The campaign generated an increase of 800+ daily inbound conversations about mental health struggles to NGO, Shout, in its first two weeks: a 58% increase in daily traffic. It generated 62K unique views to its website and 74K impressions on its social channels.

It delivered 1850+ pieces of earned within the first month of launch (UK, Japan, US). 90% included core messaging and 91% were standalone features.

On TikTok, the video hit 9.6 million views and 2K likes. On YouTube the video hit 14.3million views in the first two weeks (14 million in total). The campaign generated 197m UK social impressions.

Sarah Kendrick, Clinical Director, Shout said: “The type of AI innovation in Lenovo’s social experiment shows huge promise as a way in which generations with different awareness of online personas can meet and understand each other.”

This was a genuine first for Lenovo, putting their technology to the test. But it proved to be more than that. It demonstrated how technology could hold the key to using AI as potential future therapy.