It’s no secret that social media is filled with false and misleading health information. Recently, there has been growing concern that artificial intelligence (AI) could potentially make this problem even worse by generating and spreading more misinformation. To address this issue, project MICHA is aiming to use AI in a different way – to help fight back against health misinformation. The researchers want to develop "benevolent bots" that can actively participate in online discussions, especially in maternal health forums, to correct false claims and provide users with or direct users to accurate, trustworthy information.

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The first step of the project is to review what has already been done in academia and industry to tackle misinformation online. Then, the team will survey people and hold a co-design workshop to understand how they feel about AI bots interacting in their online communities. Crucially, the researchers want to explore what it would take for these AI bots to be seen as authentic and credible, rather than intrusive interventions that compromise the natural feel and trust of the online forums. The outcome of this research could have important implications for public health and how we responsibly use emerging AI technologies in the future.