AI, Public Health, and Ethics: Examining the Role of Chatbots in Combatting Vaccine Hesitancy and Health Misinformation

1. Empirical Analysis:
   • Objective: Measure the effectiveness of an AI-driven chatbot intervention in improving vaccine confidence compared to two alternative conditions: a traditional reading-based health message and a no-message control.
   • Rationale: Understanding whether chatbots can significantly influence vaccine decision-making is crucial for evidence-based public health strategies.
2. Ethical Inquiry:
   • Objective: Investigate the extent to which AI persuasion challenges traditional bioethical principles such as autonomy, informed consent, and transparency.
   • Rationale: This will illuminate the moral trade-offs involved in leveraging AI to influence health behaviors.
3. Policy Recommendations:
   • Objective: Develop ethical guidelines and policy frameworks for national health agencies and international organizations (e.g., WHO, CDC) to regulate AI-driven health interventions.
   • Rationale: Clear policy recommendations can inform legislative efforts and standardize best practices for AI use in global vaccine campaigns.
4. Equity Perspective:
   • Objective: Explore differential impacts of AI chatbots in various socio-economic and cultural contexts, including low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
   • Rationale: Ensuring that AI-driven interventions do not exacerbate existing health disparities is essential for ethical and sustainable global health initiatives.

Expected Outcomes

1. Academic Publications: At least one peer-reviewed journal article detailing empirical results on chatbot effectiveness and an in-depth ethical analysis of AI persuasion in public health.
2. Policy Brief/Guidelines: A set of policy recommendations aimed at organizations like WHO and other global and national health agencies.
3. Practical Framework: A roadmap for implementing chatbot interventions responsibly in diverse settings, especially LMICs, where resources and regulatory structures may be limited.
4. Conference Presentations: Present findings at bioethics, digital health, and global health conferences to foster interdisciplinary dialogue and collaboration.

By integrating empirical data, ethical reflection, and policy analysis, the project will offer holistic insights that can guide future AI-assisted public health interventions. In doing so, it will contribute to global efforts to increase vaccine uptake and address enduring challenges related to trust, misinformation, and accessibility.