WHO releases generative AI health promotion tool called S.A.R.A.H.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has introduced S.A.R.A.H, the Smart AI Resource Assistant for Health, a generative AI designed to offer guidance on various health topics such as healthy lifestyle habits and mental health.

This prototype health AI can converse in eight languages and is compatible with any device. It covers a range of topics including cancer, heart disease, lung disease, and diabetes, assisting individuals in learning about tobacco cessation, maintaining an active lifestyle, adopting a healthy diet, and managing stress.

S.A.R.A.H. operates on Soul Machine’s Biological AI platform, utilising generative AI for more accurate and empathetic responses in real-time, rather than relying on a pre-set algorithm.

WHO Director-General 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 the 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."

In a broader context, the WHO initiated a tobacco cessation program in 2020, known as the Access Initiative for Quitting Tobacco, which utilises AI virtual health workers for nicotine replacement treatments. Similarly, the National Institutes of Health launched its own artificial intelligence program, Bridge2AI, aiming to invest $130 million over four years to accelerate AI adoption in biomedical and behavioural health research. Additionally, in 2023, the United Kingdom collaborated with generative AI companies OpenAI and Deep Mind to explore how AI can enhance healthcare and education services across the country.

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