Project information
Algorithmic public health: using AI to improve human lives and system outcomes (Alg pub health)

Emerging technologies such as AI based on big data from smartphones and wearables offer great potential in terms of public policies aimed at improving the lives of citizens. Over the course of my research project, I intend to fill some gaps that exist in the currently available research regarding public health strategies for the promotion of healthy lifestyles. What is lacking is a systematic analysis of the ways in which the existing approaches fail, which can be contrasted with the potential benefits of AI-driven approaches. Since there are potential downsides to more widespread uses of machine intelligence in public health (data breaches, biases, increased government surveillance), it would be useful to quantify the amount of unused potential and inefficiency in the status quo to paint a fuller cost-benefit picture. Once the potential use cases are evaluated, the next question offers itself: how do we practically implement them? While the first part of the puzzle lies in the realm of public policy and health economics, this last part concerns mainly public administration.