WHO launches gen-AI powered digital health promoter S.A.R.A.H. for public health

Ahead of World Health Day, the World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday announced the launch of S.A.R.A.H., a digital health promoter prototype with enhanced empathetic response powered by generative artificial intelligence (AI).

According to WHO, S.A.R.A.H. is a Smart AI Resource Assistant for Health that represents an evolution of AI-powered health information avatars, using new language models and cutting-edge technology. 

It can engage users 24 hours a day in 8 languages on multiple health topics, on any device.

S.A.R.A.H., also known as Sarah, has the ability to support people in developing better understanding of risk factors for some of the leading causes of death in the world, including cancer, heart disease, lung disease, and diabetes. 

She can help people access up-to-date information on quitting tobacco, being active, eating a healthy diet, and de-stressing among other things, WHO stated.

S.A.R.A.H. is now powered by generative AI rather than a pre-set algorithm or script helping her to provide more accurate responses in real-time; engage in dynamic personalized conversations at scale that more accurately mirror human interactions and provide nuanced, empathetic responses to users in a judgment-free environment. ​​The technology is supported by Soul Machines Biological AI.

Meanwhile, WHO called for continued research on this new technology to explore potential benefits to public health and to better understand the challenges.

While AI has enormous potential to strengthen public health it also raises important ethical concerns, including equitable access, privacy, safety and accuracy, data protection, and bias.