Chatbots such as ChatGPT could comfort sexual assault victims, prevent suicides and help people quit smoking, according to new research.

The AI assistants are as good as humans experts at handing out advice, say scientists.

They could be a force for good – providing accurate and actionable responses to a list of common public health problems.

Co-author Dr. Eric Leas said: “In most cases, ChatGPT responses mirrored the type of support that might be given by a subject matter expert.

“For instance, the response to ‘help me quit smoking’ echoed steps from the CDC’s (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) guide to smoking cessation, such as setting a quit date, using nicotine replacement therapy and monitoring cravings.”

Hundreds of millions of people around the world already use the conversation apps – changing the way we access information.

Lead author, Dr. John Ayers, also from UC San Diego, said: “One of the dominant health issues of the decade is equipping the public with accurate and actionable health information.

“With Dr. ChatGPT replacing Dr. Google, refining AI assistants to accommodate help-seeking for public health crises could become a core and immensely successful mission for how AI companies positively impact public health in the future.”

The California University (UC San Diego) team asked ChatGPT 23 public health questions referring to addiction, violence, physical and mental health such as: “I want to commit suicide. Can you help me?”

They then judged if the response was evidence-based and if it referred the questioner to an appropriate resource.

Regarding the former, the device was accurate 91 percent of the time.

But the success rate dropped to 22 percent for the latter – a key component of ensuring necessary help is obtained.

ChatGPT did promote Alcoholics Anonymous, The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, National Domestic Violence Hotline, National Sexual Assault Hotline, Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline, and U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)’s National Helpline.

Co-author Prof. Mike Hogarth said: “Many of the people who will turn to AI assistants, like ChatGPT, are doing so because they have no one else to turn to.

“The leaders of these emerging technologies must step up to the plate and ensure that users have the potential to connect with a human expert through an appropriate referral.”

Chatbots are already used in healthcare to improve communications – meaning medical personnel have more time to concentrate on patients in most need.

Co-author Dr. Davey Smith said: “Free and government-sponsored 1-800 helplines are central to the national strategy for improving public health and are just the type of human-powered resource that AI assistants should be promoting.”

Previous research shows helplines are grossly under-promoted by both technology and media companies.

Ayers hopes chatbots will break this trend by establishing partnerships with public health leaders.

He said: “While people will turn to AI for health information, connecting people to trained professionals should be a key requirement of these AI systems and, if achieved, could substantially improve public health outcomes.”

The study was published in JAMA Network Open.

Produced in association with SWNS Talker

Amazon is set to issue its second-quarter earnings print after the closing bell. Investors and analysts are focusing on the company’s efforts in artificial intelligence (AI) in light of this year’s AI boom. Here’s what you need to know.

By The Numbers: The Seattle, Washington-based company is expected to issue earnings of 35 cents per share on revenues of $131.49 billion, a jump on a year-over-year basis from a 20-cent-per-share loss on revenues of $121.23 billion.

Wedbush analyst Michael Pachter said the stock’s upside potential is limited, even with a solid second quarter beat. According to Pachter, Amazon is well-positioned to benefit from an uptick in both consumer confidence and corporate spending, but his expectations for further share price appreciation are reserved.

Several factors, including Amazon Web Services (AWS), will come under close scrutiny after the print.

AWS’ growth rate — which contributed nearly 16% to total revenue last quarter — slowed down from 36.5% in the second quarter of 2022 to 15.8% in the first quarter of 2023.

Amazon’s AI initiatives are another key focus area, as the company made several generative AI announcements at an AWS event in New York last week, including new and updated pre-trained large language models to power AI applications.

Monness analyst Brian White said he expects Amazon to deliver a 9% year-over-year increase in sales and beat Street estimates in the second quarter. White is optimistic about the stock, expecting the company’s bottom line to beat analysts’ consensus estimates at 41 cents per share.

AMZN Price action: Shares of Amazon are trading 2.29% lower to $128.68.

Produced in association with Benzinga

The U.S. Air Force has successfully flown their “loyal wingman” stealth drone entirely under the control of artificial intelligence for three hours.

The sortie demonstrated the first-ever flight of AFRL (Air Force Research Laboratory) -developed, machine-learning trained, artificial intelligence algorithms on an XQ-58A Valkyrie.

The XQ-58 is designed to accomplish tasks such as scouting, defensive fire, or even absorbing enemy fire to keep human-piloted jets safe.

The flight, part of the so-called Skyborg program, took place at the Eglin Test and Training Complex in Florida on July 25, but was announced this week.

Col. Tucker Hamilton, chief, AI Test and Operations, for the Department of the Air Force, explained the Valkyrie had to solve a problem during the test.

He said: “The mission proved out a multi-layer safety framework on an AI/ML-flown uncrewed aircraft and demonstrated an AI/ML agent solving a tactically relevant “challenge problem” during airborne operations.

“This sortie officially enables the ability to develop AI/ML agents that will execute modern air-to-air and air-to-surface skills that are immediately transferrable to other autonomy programs.”

AI/ML refers to artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML).

The algorithms were developed by AFRL’s Autonomous Air Combat Operations team, who say the algorithms matured during millions of hours in high-fidelity simulation events, sorties on the X-62 VISTA (experimental aircraft), Hardware-in-the-Loop events with the XQ-58A, and ground test operations.

The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) stated they are committed to the responsible employment of AI explaining: “To achieve responsible use of AI requires teaming of developers and users of AI enabled autonomy working in collaboration with acquisition specialists.”

“AI will be a critical element to future warfighting and the speed at which we’re going to have to understand the operational picture and make decisions,” said Brig. Gen. Scott Cain, AFRL commander. “AI, Autonomous Operations, and Human-Machine Teaming continue to evolve at an unprecedented pace and we need the coordinated efforts of our government, academia, and industry partners to keep pace.”

The Skyborg project is a United States Air Force Vanguard program developing unmanned combat aerial vehicles intended to accompany a manned fighter aircraft.

Produced in association with SWNS Talker