The World Health Organization (WHO) embraces artificial intelligence to deliver health-related information through an AI avatar named SARAH, an acronym for Smart AI Resource Assistant for Health. SARAH represents a cutting-edge initiative by WHO to address the global health workforce shortage by providing assistance around the clock in eight different languages. SARAH’s core focus areas include mental health, tobacco use education, and nutrition guidance.
Despite SARAH’s innovative deployment, WHO openly acknowledges its limitations, pointing out that its AI avatar is not immune to producing inaccurate responses. Part of this stems from the fact that the AI has not been loaded with all the latest health data, which sometimes leads to unexpected and potentially misleading answers.
SARAH has been programmed with strict boundaries; for example, it avoids discussing specifics about drugs and will often direct users to WHO’s website or advise them to consult health care providers for personalized medical advice.
Experts like Ramin Javan, a radiologist and researcher at George Washington University, recognize SARAH’s current superficiality but view it as an initial step in advancing health technology.
WHO looks forward to collaborating with researchers and governments to further enhance SARAH and potentially utilize the bot in public health emergencies. However, WHO emphasizes that AI cannot yet replace professional medical advice from trained health care providers.
Regarding SARAH’s training, it was reportedly built on OpenAI’s ChatGPT 3.5 with data only up to September 2021, clearly indicating the AI’s information would be outdated for recent medical advice or news.
For instance, when questioned about the FDA’s approval of a drug named Lecanemab for Alzheimer’s disease, SARAH incorrectly stated that the drug was still in clinical trials, whereas it had already been approved in January 2023. Also, SARAH struggled to provide current information on hepatitis deaths and failed to give local information on mammography services in Washington.
These inaccuracies reflect the growing pains of developing AI, highlighting the need for improvements to ensure that AI can reliably assist users without the risk of misinformation.
Key Questions and Answers:
What is the purpose of the WHO’s AI system, SARAH?
The purpose of SARAH is to alleviate the global health workforce shortage by offering health-related information to users 24/7 in several languages. SARAH’s areas of expertise primarily include mental health, tobacco cessation, and nutrition.
Are there any known limitations of SARAH?
Yes, SARAH does not have access to the most recent health data, which may result in incorrect responses. Additionally, SARAH is programmed to avoid discussing drug specifics and will often refer users to professionals or the WHO’s website for detailed information.
Can SARAH provide personalized medical advice?
No, SARAH is designed to provide general health information and is not a replacement for professional medical advice from health care providers.
What are the challenges associated with SARAH?
One of the key challenges is ensuring that SARAH’s database is constantly updated with the latest medical research and developments to avoid the distribution of outdated or incorrect information. Another challenge is advancing the AI’s capabilities to handle more complex health inquiries without compromising accuracy.
Controversies:
While SARAH represents an innovative step, its reliance on pre-September 2021 data has raised concerns about the dissemination of outdated information, which can be detrimental in health-related matters where accuracy is critical.
Advantages:
– Availability around the clock in multiple languages.
– Potential to provide immediate assistance for common health questions.
– Can help in addressing the global shortage of health workers.
Disadvantages:
– Risk of providing outdated or incorrect information.
– Limited ability to offer specific advice related to medications and treatment.
– Cannot replace the nuanced advice of health care professionals.
Related Links:
To learn more about the World Health Organization and its initiatives, you may visit their main website at World Health Organization.
Would you please confirm that the information is accurate and up-to-date regarding SARAH being programmed on OpenAI’s ChatGPT 3.5 with data up to September 2021 and the reference to Lecanemab’s FDA approval status?
The source of the article is from the blog agogs.sk