The World Health Organization (WHO) announced the launch of S.A.R.A.H., a digital health promoter prototype with improved empathetic response driven by generative artificial intelligence (AI), on Tuesday.
WHO describes S.A.R.A.H. as a Smart AI Resource Assistant for Health that uses cutting-edge technology and new language models to show an evolution of AI-powered health information avatars. It can engage consumers on any device, 24 hours a day, in 8 languages, with a variety of health concerns.
UN Health body said in a statement, “WHO’s digital health promoter is trained to provide information across major health topics, including healthy habits and mental health, to help people optimize their health and well-being journey. It aims to provide an additional tool for people to realize their rights to health, wherever they are.”
Sarah, also known as S.A.R.A.H., has the ability to assist individuals in gaining a greater understanding of the risk factors associated with some of the world’s most common causes of death, including diabetes, cancer, heart disease and lung disease. According to WHO, among other things, she could help individuals get access to the most recent information on quitting tobacco, exercising, maintaining a healthy diet and de-stressing.
WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated, “The future of health is digital, and supporting countries to harness the power of digital technologies for health is a priority for WHO. S.A.R.A.H. gives us a glimpse of how artificial intelligence could be used in future to improve access to health information in a more interactive way. I call on the research community to help us continue to explore how this technology could narrow inequities and help people access up-to-date, reliable health information.”