AI Safety for Transforming Public Health Communication: Highlights from Our NACCHO 360 Presentation

At Wehealth, we're committed to revolutionizing public health communication. At this year’s NACCHO 360 conference, in collaboration with our partners at the University of Arizona, Dr. Kacey Ernst, Department Chair & Professor Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Dr. Bruce Helming, Asst. Medical Director Campus Health, Noriko Tamari, PhD Candidate Epidemiology, we showcased our innovative approach to using AI to deliver critical public health and safety alerts to diverse communities.

Here are the key takeaways from our 45-minute presentation:

Leveraging AI for Effective Public Health Alerts

One of the highlights of our presentation was demonstrating how AI-generated videos can transform public health communication. We showed a demo of how AI avatars could deliver essential safety alerts—such as weather warnings—in multiple languages, making the information more accessible and relatable to different communities. We also demonstrated how AI can help verify content on the platform, flag issues that need human oversight, and surface insights from the various data sources we aggregate. By harnessing the power of artificial intelligence, we aim to ensure that crucial public health messages reach everyone quickly, clearly, and effectively.

Collaboration and Innovation at the Core of Our Work

Our work is built on collaboration and innovation. During the presentation, Halai, our CEO, alongside esteemed colleagues Dr. Kacey, Chair & Professor of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, and Dr. Bruce, Assistant Medical Director of Campus Health at the University of Arizona, shared insights into how we are pioneering new ways to communicate health information. Our team's expertise spans epidemiology, biostatistics, social computing, and public health, providing a strong foundation for developing advanced communication tools that respond to today’s health challenges. The Wehealth app enhances traditional alerts from trusted sources like the CDC and National Weather Service by integrating local public health alerts, making it an invaluable resource for communities nationwide.

Privacy-First Approach and Future Directions

A critical component of our platform is our commitment to privacy and data security. Unlike many other apps, the Wehealth app is completely anonymous; it requires no user sign-up, personal information, or even location data, ensuring that everyone can stay informed without compromising their privacy. We believe that protecting user data is essential in building trust and encouraging widespread adoption. Looking ahead, we are excited to explore new possibilities for AI in public health, including personalized chronic disease management and real-time emergency response tools. Noriko Tamari, a PhD candidate at the University of Arizona, presented ideas on a comprehensive, all hazard risk model built on peer-to-peer communication. Our future vision involves ongoing collaboration with public health experts, community stakeholders, and technology partners to continuously adapt and innovate in response to emerging health challenges.

Quality Assurance and AI Safety

We highlighted the extensive investments we have made in quality assurance using automation to verify the service at scale. We also introduced the AI Safety framework we use to limit the risks of modern AI tools for certain workflows, and also flagged why we significantly limit AI for certain things like translations and chatbots.

Getting involved

At Wehealth, we are dedicated to creating a safer, healthier world through cutting-edge technology and strong partnerships. We invite you to join us on this journey:

For the general public:

1. Download Wehealth Notify
2. Enter a zip code or select any location in the United States
3. That's it. You will now stay informed with the latest health and safety alerts designed to keep you and your loved ones safe.

For public health experts, emergency preparedness managers and public communicators:

1. Download Wehealth Portal
2. Sign in with your email and request access to your community
3. Once approved, you will be able to manage the end user experience and customize all content for your community

Thank you for being a part of our mission to enhance public health communication for all!