PC Magazine - USA (2020-12)

(Antfer) #1

THE VERDICT
9LVXDOO\DXUDOO\DQGWRQDOO\)ORUHQFHLV¿QH%XWWKH$, RU³GLJLWDOEUDLQ ́DV
6RXO0DFKLQHVGXEVLW QHHGVWRJRWRPHGVFKRRORUKDQJRXWZLWKH[VPRNHUV
to formulate better quit plans. Florence doesn’t have enough clinical cognitive–
EHKDYLRUDOWKHUDSHXWLFH[SHULHQFHULJKWQRZWREHWUXO\H̆HFWLYH


The script is also on a closed loop (I know, because I tried it several times
GXULQJGL̆HUHQWVHVVLRQV DQGUHWDLQVQRSHUVRQDOL]HGLQIRUPDWLRQ<RXPLJKW
ZDQWWKLVOHYHORIDQRQ\PLW\EXWKDYLQJWULHGRXW0$%8WKHSLQWVL]HG
KHDOWKFDUHURERWDQGPRELOHEDVHG$,WKHUDSLVW:<6$,NQRZWKHIXWXUHRI$,
delivered, machine learning-based healthcare has got to be rooted in
personalization. It also requires proven research, while deploying sophisticated
socio-emotive H2M (Human to Machine) behavioral science.


$WUXO\H̆HFWLYHVPRNLQJFHVVDWLRQGLJLWDOKHDOWKZRUNHUFDQ¶WVWRSDWDVLPSOH
scripted conversation and delivering a plan (or a toll-free helpline). Florence
QHHGVWREHDQ$,WKDW\RXFDQFKHFNLQZLWKZKHQ\RX¶UHVWUXJJOLQJDQGZDQWWR
smoke. Talk therapy works, because it’s good to talk when the going gets tough.
%XWWKHVHDUHHDUO\GD\VIRUYLUWXDOKXPDQV)ORUHQFHLVDZRUWKZKLOHDWWHPSW
and, I’m sure, will improve over time.


THE BACKSTORY
$IWHUWKHVHVVLRQ,FRQWDFWHGUHJ&URVV&R)RXQGHUDQG&KLHI%UDQG2̇FHU
RI6RXO0DFKLQHVLQ1HZ=HDODQGDQG-DLPLH
XHUUD&RPPXQLFDWLRQ2̇FHU
for Non Communicable Diseases, at the World Health Organization in Geneva.


PCMag: How did this partnership between Soul Machines and the
WHO come about?


Jaimie Guerra/WHO: Early on in the pandemic, WHO research showed that
smokers are at higher risk of developing severe disease and death from
&29,'$VWKLVHYLGHQFHZDVUHSRUWHGPLOOLRQVRIPRUHSHRSOHZDQWHGWR
quit. We were acutely aware that health workers were overwhelmed, and
FHVVDWLRQVHUYLFHVZRXOGQRWKROGXSGXULQJWKHSDQGHPLF6RZHORRNHGIRUD
solution that would engage people, pique their interest, and be available in their
home 24/7.

Free download pdf