World Health Organisation (WHO) has launched SARAH (Smart AI Resource Assistant for Health), a new health promotion tool with enhanced empathetic response, powered by generative Artificial Intelligence (AI).
This announcement came ahead of this year’s World Health Day (WHD) on April 7, with the theme ‘My Health, My Right.’
SARAH is said to represent a leap forward in AI-powered health information, utilising cutting-edge technology to provide users with round-the-clock access to health information across eight languages on any device.
According to the statement by WHO, the digital health assistant is trained to offer information on a wide range of health topics, including healthy habits and mental well-being. It also aims to empower individuals to take charge of their health journey and understand their health rights. The World Health Body stated that AI could support users in comprehending risk factors for leading causes of death like cancer, heart disease and diabetes.
It further detailed that SARAH could provide up-to-date information on quitting tobacco, maintaining an active lifestyle, healthy eating, and stress management techniques.
Director-General of WHO, Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, said: “The future of health is digital, and supporting countries to harness the power of digital technologies for health is a priority for WHO.
“SARAH gives us a glimpse of how AI could be used in the future to improve access to health information more interactively. 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.”
