Chaddict and AskEvaMarie are AI workers built for Infiniti Group, an operator of addiction treatment centers in Southern California. Each one is shaped around a real person's voice and lived experience, so the conversations feel human from the first message.
Most people who need help aren't ready to call a treatment center. These workers meet them where they are.
The Challenge
The people most likely to benefit from treatment are often the least likely to reach out. They show up at odd hours, carrying shame or fear, and one wrong tone ends the conversation before it starts. A generic chatbot doesn't work here. Neither does an aggressive push toward intake.
Infiniti Group needed a way to reach more people without losing the warmth that makes those early conversations possible. They also needed to respect the timing. For most people, the first step isn't booking treatment. It's talking to someone who doesn't make them feel worse for asking.
Their team couldn't be available around the clock for those conversations at scale. And the window when someone is open to help doesn't wait for business hours.
The Workers
Chaddict and AskEvaMarie each run as a distinct AI personality, built around a real voice and backstory. Both provide empathetic, non-judgmental support and create a path to treatment when the person is ready.
Chaddict is based on Chad Carlsen, the CEO of Infiniti Group, who has worked in behavioral health since 2000 and co-founded Hope by the Sea. The worker draws on that background to deliver grounded, practical support, calm and direct, without pressure.
AskEvaMarie reflects the voice of Natalie Eva Marie, former WWE wrestler and CEO of NEM Recovery Centers. The worker offers straight talk and real perspective, shaped by her own recovery experience and her work in the field.
Both workers share the same approach:
- Conversation first: Responds with empathy, asks thoughtful questions, and meets the user where they are. No scripts, no pressure.
- Judgment-free support: Designed for people who feel ashamed, defensive, or unsure. The tone stays steady regardless of what the user shares.
- Timely next steps: When the user's messages point toward readiness, the worker gently introduces the option to connect with treatment support, including sharing a phone number to speak with someone directly.
- Always available: Runs around the clock, so the conversation can happen when the person is actually ready to have it.
The Impact
Chaddict and AskEvaMarie have supported thousands of users and created a consistent, human front door for people considering treatment. One user who initially said they didn't want help stayed engaged for more than 350 messages. That level of sustained conversation almost never happens in traditional intake flows.
When the tone is right and the pressure is off, people stay. And when they stay long enough, some of them ask for help.
The partnership with Infiniti Group continues today. The work has also helped clarify what it takes to build AI for high-empathy, high-stakes situations.
"We built these workers for the conversations that happen before someone is ready. That's where the difference gets made."
