The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced the launch of a generative artificial intelligence (AI)-powered digital health promoter prototype ahead of World Health Day on 7 April.

Celebrated annually, World Health Day draws attention to a specific health topic of concern to people globally. This year’s theme, ‘My Health, My Right’, champions the right of everyone, everywhere to have access to quality health services, education and information.

The Smart AI Resource Assistant for Health (SARAH) will comprise new language models and cutting-edge technology to engage users across major health topics, including healthy habits and mental health.

SARAH aims to provide an additional tool for people to learn their rights to health, by supporting them in developing a better understanding of risk factors for some of the leading causes of death worldwide, including cancer, heart disease, lung disease and diabetes.

In addition, the AI assistant can help individuals access up-to-date information on quitting tobacco, being active, eating a healthy diet, de-stressing and more.

Supported by Soul Machines Biological AI, the digital health promoter comprises AI-powered health information avatars, which allow users to engage with the resource for 24 hours a day in eight languages on any device.

The SARAH project also aims to enhance learning and development using reliable, responsible and accessible information.

Powered by generative AI, SARAH is able to provide more accurate real-time responses, engage in dynamic, personalised conversations similar to human interactions and provide nuanced, empathetic responses to users free of judgment.

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general, WHO, commented: “SARAH gives us a glimpse of how AI could be used in future to improve access to health information in a more interactive way.”

Despite its advancements, WHO has called for continued research on this new technology, as AI still raises ethical concerns revolving around equitable access, privacy, safety and accuracy, data protection and bias.

In an effort to tackle these challenges, developers, policymakers and healthcare providers are urged to address these ethics and human rights issues in relation to the development and deployment of AI to ensure that everyone can benefit from it.

https://pmlive.com/pharma_news/world-health-organization-launches-ai-powered-digital-health-assistant-for-public-health/