Need a little help to quit smoking but don’t have the time or money to visit a counsellor? Perhaps a virtual coach could help you kick the habit.
Betsy van Dijk and colleagues from the University of Twente in Enschede, the Netherlands, and the Dutch anti-smoking organisation Stivoro are developing a female chatbot to provide free, round-the-clock advice and exercises for people trying to give up.
Van Dijk says anti-smoking chatbots are ideal for smokers who may be too embarrassed to see a counsellor or simply can’t find the time or the money. Chatbots also have another advantage. “A virtual…
