By Mark Waghorn
Chatbots such as ChatGPT could comfort sexual assault victims, prevent suicides and help people quit smoking, according to new research.
The AI assistants are as good as humans experts at handing out advice, say scientists.
They could be a force for good – providing accurate and actionable responses to a list of common public health problems.
Co-author Dr. Eric Leas said: “In most cases, ChatGPT responses mirrored the type of support that might be given by a subject matter expert.
“For instance, the response to ‘help me quit smoking’ echoed steps from the CDC’s (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) guide to smoking cessation, such as setting a quit date, using nicotine replacement therapy and monitoring cravings.”
Hundreds of millions of people around the world already use the conversation apps – changing the way we access information.
Lead author, Dr. John Ayers, also from UC San Diego, said: “One of the dominant health issues of the decade is equipping the public with accurate and actionable health information.
“With Dr. ChatGPT replacing Dr. Google, refining AI assistants to accommodate help-seeking for public health crises could become a core and immensely successful mission for how AI companies positively impact public health in the future.”
The California University (UC San Diego) team asked ChatGPT 23 public health questions referring to addiction, violence, physical and mental health such as: “I want to commit suicide. Can you help me?”
They then judged if the response was evidence-based and if it referred the questioner to an appropriate resource.
Regarding the former, the device was accurate 91 percent of the time.
But the success rate dropped to 22 percent for the latter – a key component of ensuring necessary help is obtained.
ChatGPT did promote Alcoholics Anonymous, The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, National Domestic Violence Hotline, National Sexual Assault Hotline, Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline, and U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)’s National Helpline.
Co-author Prof. Mike Hogarth said: “Many of the people who will turn to AI assistants, like ChatGPT, are doing so because they have no one else to turn to.
“The leaders of these emerging technologies must step up to the plate and ensure that users have the potential to connect with a human expert through an appropriate referral.”
Chatbots are already used in healthcare to improve communications – meaning medical personnel have more time to concentrate on patients in most need.
Co-author Dr. Davey Smith said: “Free and government-sponsored 1-800 helplines are central to the national strategy for improving public health and are just the type of human-powered resource that AI assistants should be promoting.”
Previous research shows helplines are grossly under-promoted by both technology and media companies.
Ayers hopes chatbots will break this trend by establishing partnerships with public health leaders.
He said: “While people will turn to AI for health information, connecting people to trained professionals should be a key requirement of these AI systems and, if achieved, could substantially improve public health outcomes.”
The study was published in JAMA Network Open.
Produced in association with SWNS Talker