A new artificial intelligence chatbot named Dora has been launched by the nonprofit Hold the Door, aiming to assist individuals grappling with grief and trauma. The release coincides with the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Dora was developed by Hold the Door, an organization founded in memory of Ronald Fazio Sr., who died while helping colleagues evacuate the South Tower of the World Trade Center during the attacks. His son, Rob Fazio, founder of Hold the Door, stated that the AI grief companion is intended to provide a supportive space for those experiencing difficult times.
"We designed Doora to be a bridge for people in the moment when they're going through a very difficult time so they can have a moment... where they say, 'Maybe I can get through this. Maybe I can grow from this experience,'" Rob Fazio told Fox News Digital. He added that the chatbot's foundation is built on 24 years of research into post-traumatic growth and coping with loss.
The AI chatbot operates 24/7, offering both voice and text support. It is designed for individuals who may not have immediate access to therapy, counselors, friends, or family, or who are hesitant to seek traditional help. The development team included lawyers, psychologists, and business leaders.
Rob Fazio described Dora as a "growth guide" intended to help users navigate their grief while also encouraging forward momentum. "We really are supportive and at the same time give people a little nudge toward their future while they're honoring a loved one they lost or some adversity that they faced," he said. The goal is to help individuals prevent their pain from defining their identity or future.
All initiatives by Hold the Door, including the launch of Dora, are meant to honor Fazio Sr.'s legacy and his final act of heroism. "His natural instinct of putting others first was really the birth of Hold the Door for others," Fazio recalled of his father. "That's what me and my family have done for the last 25 years."
Beyond the AI tool, Hold the Door also provides free workshops, grief resources, and community programs that draw inspiration from the resilience demonstrated in the aftermath of 9/11. Fazio noted that grieving without his father's remains presented unique challenges for his family, underscoring the need for support systems.
"In the absence of a body, sometimes it is hard to grieve," he said, recalling a promise he made at his father's memorial service that his father's legacy would be "damn loud." That promise now continues through Hold the Door and its new AI chatbot, Dora.