UB researcher recognized for work on innovative chatbot

BUFFALO, N.Y. – Helen Wang, PhD, a professor of communication in the University at Buffalo College of Arts and Sciences, is part of an international team of researchers and technology developers that received an innovation award from a Paris-based think tank.

The team designed and tested SnehAI, an AI-driven chatbot with the goal of teaching young people in India about issues related to sexual and reproductive health (SHR).

The Innovation Team Best Practices Award, presented by the European Institute for Creative Strategies and Innovation, celebrates multidisciplinary collaborations that combine their talents to deliver projects that benefit society.

Wang led the research group that evaluated the interface and effectiveness of SnehAI, which is based on the protagonist from a popular Indian television drama series.  SnehAI was designed, implemented and evaluated between 2018-2021, work that preceded generative AI chatbots such as ChatGPT and Claude.

Wang’s study appeared in the 2022 issue of the Journal of Medical Internet Research. The World Health Organization cited her research in its 2024 Technical Brief on The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Sexual and Reproductive Health.

“I’m thrilled to be recognized for this work,” says Wang, an expert on communication strategies for health promotion. “It’s has been an honor being part of an amazingly multitalented team from SnehAI’s inception to examining and documenting the thoughtful design and phenomenal user engagement of this pioneering AI chatbot.”

The chatbot, launched in 2019, is based on the character of Dr. Sneha, a trusted physician on the show who presents themes related to gender equality and family planning. The show’s initial success inspired the Population Foundation of India to work with experts at AI for Good UK and Wang’s research team to co-create a chatbot in the doctor’s likeness. SnehAI is the first Hinglish (Hindi and English) AI chatbot designed for positive social and behavioral change.

SnehAI is built as a nonjudgmental interface that delivers accurate information on SRH, mental well-being, gender and online safety to young people across India, often connecting with vulnerable and hard-to-reach populations.

Facebook Messenger is among the social media platforms hosting SnehAI. The latest version has also expanded to issues related to safe online behaviors. In six years, it has exchanged over 13 million messages with more than 320,000 users. More importantly, SnehAI users can not only benefit from getting accurate information from a trusted source about sensitive and taboo topics, but they can also take actions through linked resources and helplines.

“SnehAI is an example for how AI can be applied in productive ways that benefit society,” says Wang. “It’s a tool for combating SRH misinformation while providing a gateway for young people to find answers to questions they might be otherwise embarrassed or uncomfortable to ask.”

SnehAI’s success is a group effort, according to Wang.

“No one person or one organization could have done this alone,” she says. “This was not only an interdisciplinary effort but an international effort involving India, the U.S. and the U.K. with an impact across national, regional and community levels.”