Whitepaper
Relate-a-bot: calm UX for conflict resolution
When people feel threatened or unheard, conversations collapse into repetition, defensiveness, and “score keeping”. Relate-a-bot is designed to reduce friction, slow the pace, and translate raw emotion into shared understanding and concrete next steps.
Problem
Most conflict tools are either too lightweight (generic tips) or too heavy (therapy-level commitment). Many couples, roommates, co-founders, and families need a calm middle path: a structured conversation that feels safe and ends with a clear plan.
- Escalation: tone drifts faster than intent.
- Ambiguity: people talk past each other, not toward a decision.
- No artifact: even good talks fade without a written next step.
Design goals
- Reduce heat, preserve dignity
- Make intent legible to both sides
- Turn talk into commitments
- Keep privacy understandable
Approach
The product is opinionated about pace. Instead of “chatting with an AI”, users move through a guided flow:
- Each person states their perspective (separately, without interruption).
- The system produces a neutral summary and checks for accuracy.
- Both agree on the desired outcome (“what good looks like”).
- Generate options, tradeoffs, and commitments.
Outputs
Every session ends with artifacts that help people follow through:
- Shared summary (agreement on what happened)
- Key needs and constraints (what must be true)
- Next steps + check-in date
- Draft agreement (editable)
Privacy
Default to minimal retention, explicit consent, and clear deletion. Privacy is a product feature, not a footer link.
Safety
Avoid judgmental language, provide off-ramps, and be honest about limitations. Escalation should lead to calmer choices, not sharper prompts.
Accessibility
High contrast, keyboard navigation, reduced motion, and clear copy. Calm UX is also inclusive UX.