Developing inclusive AI digital content strategies for economically depressed communities in the US: Focus on Appalachian Kentucky

Communities in Appalachian Kentucky that are having trouble with money have big differences in health and technology (Appalachian Regional Commission [ARC], 2017; Vanderpool et al., 2021). This paper suggests a comprehensive AI digital content strategy to improve health communication and outcomes in these kinds of communities. We look at studies about the digital divide and health differences in Appalachian Kentucky. We note that not many people have access to broadband, not many people know how to use technology, and a lot of people have chronic diseases (Pollard & Jacobsen, 2019; ARC, 2017). We use ideas from digital equity, AI ethics, co-design, and health communication to come up with research questions about how to co-design AI-driven content that will reach people in Appalachia who don't get enough of it. The method uses community-based participatory design, needs assessments, and a pilot of an AI-supported health information platform that uses more than one method. The results show that the intervention will improve people's knowledge about health, their use of digital tools, and their use of preventive care. This agrees with earlier research that found that digital tools can help people in rural areas get health care more easily when barriers are removed (Maita et al., 2024). We want to show that AI content that is co-designed and fits with the culture can fill in information gaps without making biases worse (Robinson et al., 2024; Dankwa-Mullan, 2024). The discussion is mostly about what this means for AI ethics and digital equity, with an emphasis on building trust in the community and long-term success. We finish with policy ideas for improving broadband access in rural areas, helping people buy devices, teaching people how to use technology, making sure AI is used in a fair way, and putting community voices at the heart of technology design. This study shows how AI strategies that include everyone can help make health care more fair in Appalachian Kentucky and other areas that don't get enough of it (King, 2023; Scutchfield & Patrick, 2020). Keywords: Digital Equity, Health Disparities, AI-Driven Communication, Community Co-Design, Broadband Access.