New Framework Created for AI-Powered Health Communication
Experts have introduced a new approach containing the principles of comprehension, agency, accountability, and proportionality for the design and auditing of AI-based health communication.
As artificial intelligence plays an increasing role in access to health information, researchers led by Rebecca K. Ivic from the University of Alabama have defined the concept of health-literate artificial intelligence and its core principles.
The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare
Artificial intelligence technologies are rapidly taking part in individuals' processes of searching for, interpreting, and acting upon health information. However, this technological progress is outpacing the rate at which evidence determining the actual benefit of the system is being formed.
Four Core Principles and Their Scope
The newly developed framework puts forward four core principles: comprehension, agency, accountability, and proportionality. These principles aim to design AI-mediated health communication in a safer and more understandable manner.
The goals are to ensure that system outputs match the language and knowledge of users, to support informed decisions, to make evidence and responsibilities visible, and to align guidance with the degree of importance of the situation.
Definition of Health-Literate Artificial Intelligence
The authors define health-literate artificial intelligence as technology that aligns information with users' capabilities, contexts, and needs. The objective is to avoid placing the burden entirely on individuals.