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In alignment with World Health Day's theme, "My Health, My Right," the World Health Organization (WHO) has unveiled S.A.R.A.H., an innovative digital health promoter utilizing generative artificial intelligence (AI) to offer enhanced empathetic responses.

S.A.R.A.H. (Smart AI Resource Assistant for Health) marks a significant advancement in AI-driven health information avatars, equipped with state-of-the-art technology to engage users round-the-clock in eight languages on diverse health topics across various devices.

As per the WHO website, S.A.R.A.H. aims to furnish comprehensive information spanning from healthy practices to mental well-being, facilitating individuals in optimizing their health journey while asserting their right to health, irrespective of their location.

Beyond dispensing general health insights, S.A.R.A.H., also referred to as Sarah, aids users in understanding risk factors associated with prevalent global causes of mortality such as cancer, heart disease, lung disease and diabetes. Moreover, Sarah assists in accessing current guidance on tobacco cessation, physical activity, balanced nutrition and stress management.

Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO's director-general, noted the pivotal role of digital health, stating, "S.A.R.A.H. epitomizes the potential of artificial intelligence to revolutionize health information accessibility, fostering interactive engagement and urging the research community to further explore its benefits in narrowing health disparities."

Powered by generative AI technology, S.A.R.A.H. transcends traditional algorithms, enabling real-time, personalized interactions that closely emulate human dialogue, while also delivering empathetic responses in a non-judgmental atmosphere. The initiative receives support from Soul Machines Biological AI.

While acknowledging AI's transformative potential in bolstering public health, WHO underscores the imperative of ongoing research to address ethical considerations encompassing equitable access, privacy, safety, data integrity, and bias mitigation.

WHO's commitment to ethical standards and evidence-based content underscores its continuous evaluation and refinement of the S.A.R.A.H. project, aimed at bridging the gap between health information and individuals, while upholding ethical and human rights standards.

The S.A.R.A.H. project exemplifies WHO's dedication to fostering reliable, responsible, and accessible health information, building upon previous initiatives like Florence, which was utilized during the COVID-19 pandemic to disseminate vital public health messages.