AI-powered World Health chatbot is flubbing some answers

The World Health Organisation is dipping its toes into AI to provide basic health information via an avatar that resembles a human but the bot’s advice isn’t always accurate. — AFP

The World Health Organization is wading into the world of AI to provide basic health information through a human-like avatar. But while the bot responds sympathetically to users’ facial expressions, it doesn’t always know what it’s talking about.

Sarah, short for Smart AI Resource Assistant for Health, is a virtual health worker that’s available to talk 24/7 in eight different languages to explain topics like mental health, tobacco use and healthy eating. It’s part of the WHO’s campaign to find technology that can both educate people and fill staffing gaps with the world facing a health-care worker shortage.