Comprehensive Summary
This study, presented by Abroms et. al, examined the application of an artificial intelligence ChatGPT developed chatbot, BeFreeBot, on text message intervention in individuals attempting to quit smoking. Participants (n=23) with a history of smoking in the past week from Amazon Mechanical Turk were enrolled in the study and asked to take surveys before, post two weeks, and after four weeks of the program. The average engagement rate was high at 70% such that a significant amount of participants (58%) felt that BeFreeBot helped with smoking cessation. Of 19 select individuals, 17 reported not smoking for 24 hours or longer as a result of the text message intervention. Abroms et. al noted the limitation of a small sample set with no control group and proposed future research which would include a larger, more diverse sample with various educational backgrounds.
Outcomes and Implications
The integration of an LLM-based chatbot for smoking cessation demonstrates promising feasibility and acceptability among participants, showing strong engagement and early success rates. Deliverable through accessible text-based platforms, such interventions could complement traditional behavioral programs while adhering to evidence-based cessation guidelines. Clinically, AI chatbots like BeFreeBot may serve as scalable, low-cost adjuncts for tobacco-cessation support, though larger controlled studies are needed to confirm their long-term efficacy and generalizability.