A recent study published in the peer-reviewed journal Human Vaccines and Immunotherapeutics has found that an artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot called ChatGPT could help to increase vaccine uptake by debunking myths and providing accurate information about vaccine safety. The researchers asked ChatGPT the top 50 most frequently-asked Covid-19 vaccine questions, including queries based on myths and fake stories. The study found that ChatGPT scored nine out of 10 on average for accuracy.
The experts who led the study suggest that ChatGPT could be a reliable source of non-technical information to the public, especially for those without specialist scientific knowledge. They noted that the language used by ChatGPT is easily understandable to the public without losing scientific rigor.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has listed vaccine hesitancy as one of the top 10 threats to global health. During the Covid-19 pandemic, misinformation spread via social media contributed to public mistrust of Covid-19 vaccination. The authors of this study aimed to test ChatGPT’s ability to provide accurate information about Covid vaccine safety based on current scientific evidence.
ChatGPT enables people to have human-like conversations and interactions with a virtual assistant. The technology is user-friendly and accessible to a wide population.
The study found that ChatGPT provided correct answers to most of the questions, scoring an average of nine out of 10 for accuracy. However, there were instances where ChatGPT changed its answers, and the researchers noted concerns about the potential for the AI tool to provide answers that are not in line with scientific evidence.
Despite these limitations, the researchers believe that ChatGPT could be a valuable tool in increasing vaccine uptake by debunking myths and providing accurate information to the public. They emphasized that ChatGPT is not a substitute for expert advice or scientific evidence but can serve as a reliable source of information, helping to address vaccine hesitancy caused by misinformation.
Overall, the study highlights the potential of AI chatbots like ChatGPT to help combat vaccine misinformation and boost vaccine uptake. By providing accurate information and debunking myths, these chatbots can play a crucial role in promoting public health and countering vaccine hesitancy.
Source:
Taylor & Francis Group
Salas, A., et al. (2023) Chatting with ChatGPT to learn about safety of COVID-19 vaccines – A perspective. Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics. doi.org/10.1080/21645515.2023.2235200.
