Thanks Chris - you make a very interesting point. I read an article somewhere, but I can't now recall where, that spoke about personality and AI and how to get the best out of it. In trying to Google search for that article by searching for "AI personality", Google's AI generator gave me the following:
"AI personality refers to the development of artificial intelligence systems that exhibit human-like qualities and characteristics, aiming to enhance user engagement and create more natural interactions. This involves integrating traits like empathy, humor, and emotional intelligence into AI, with ethical considerations playing a crucial role in its advancement.
Here's a more detailed look at AI personality:
1. The Concept:
Human-like Qualities: AI personality aims to imbue AI systems with traits that mimic human behavior, such as empathy, humor, and emotional intelligence, to make interactions more natural and engaging.
Enhanced User Experience: By incorporating personality, AI can become more relatable and easier for users to connect with, potentially leading to increased engagement and satisfaction.
Personalized Interactions: AI personality can be tailored to specific tasks or user preferences, enabling more personalized and relevant interactions.
2. Key Aspects of AI Personality:
AI Personality Analysis: This involves examining and understanding the distinct traits and characteristics exhibited by AI systems, including how they interact with users, the language they use, and their emotional intelligence.
Ethical Considerations: As AI personality develops, it's crucial to address potential biases and unintended consequences, ensuring responsible usage and ethical development.
Tailoring AI Systems: Understanding AI personalities allows developers to fine-tune systems to specific tasks or user preferences, ensuring they provide more personalized and engaging experiences.
3. Examples of AI Personality:
Friendly and Approachable AI: Designed to create a welcoming and positive user experience.
Professional and Efficient AI: Focuses on task completion and providing accurate information in a concise manner.
Humorous and Playful AI: Used to create entertaining and engaging interactions.
Intelligent and Knowledgeable AI:Emphasizes providing comprehensive and insightful information.
4. AI in Personality Tests and Assessments:
Analyzing Responses: AI can analyze responses to questions and identify patterns in data to make predictions about personality characteristics.
Predicting Outcomes: AI can use data from personality assessments or other sources (e.g., social media) to predict outcomes like job performance.
Ethical Considerations: Bias in AI algorithms can lead to inaccurate or unfair assessments, raising ethical concerns.
AI-powered Personality Tests: Some AI programs can analyze audio and video to make inferences about an individual's personality."
I also came across all sort of articles and papers which made me realize just how much there is out there on this topic. But one thought I had: if AI responds to prompts in the tone of the prompt, isn't that potentially a good thing for the uptake of health information? For example, if a 16-year-old girl asks a health-related question and the response comes back in the tone of a peer, isn't she more likely to "believe it"?
On a related note, for a course I did many, many years ago, I wrote a thesis on whether the internet might allay fears or cause anxiety in relation to health. As part of that I did a survey, and I recall being surprised that several people cited trusted information sources for health information (from my recollection) to be their friends and family, tabloid newspapers and TV soaps (serial dramas).
There is certainly so much more to discuss and learn about AI and health information!
Julie
HIFA profile: Julie N Reza is a UK-based specialist in communications for biosciences, global health & international development (www.globalbiomedia.co.uk). She predominantly works with NGOs and not-for-profit organisations. Previously she was the senior science editor at TDR, based at the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva; prior to this she worked at the Wellcome Trust, UK, leading educational projects on international health topics including trypanosomiasis and trachoma. She has a PhD in immunology and a specialist degree in science communication. She also has several years research and postgraduate teaching experience. She is a member of the HIFA Steering Group and HIFA Social Media Working Group. https://www.hifa.org/support/members/julie-n She is coordinator of HIFA's LinkedIn channel: https://www.linkedin.com/company/healthcare-information-for-all-hifa/pos... Email: naimareza AT hotmail.com