Generative AI Chatbots for Global HIV Treatment and Care: A Commentary

ABSTRACT: Addressing stigma, mental health, and health care access challenges for people living with HIV requires a multifaceted approach. Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) chatbots may be one component of this approach. GenAI chatbots can reduce travel costs and save time. They provide opportunities to offer users a discreet alternative to human interaction, helping reduce stigma and improve comfort. They are easy to use, have multilingual capabilities and high levels of user satisfaction. Emerging evidence on GenAI chatbots suggests promising potential for enhancing HIV prevention, such as supporting HIV self-testing and providing information on PrEP, counseling, providing access to information, and role-playing HIV status disclosure. Successful implementation of GenAI for HIV care, however, requires careful consideration of ethical and practical issues to ensure safe and responsible use. Building user AI knowledge, trust, and ensuring ethical integrity will require meaningful collaboration between technologists, clinicians, researchers, and those most affected by HIV.