Researchers at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center have created an innovative resource that can help you quit smoking for good. The question is, are you ready to try something new?
The team at Fred Hutchinson, led by Dr. Jonathan Bricker, partnered with Microsoft’s AI for Good to create an incredible new AI-powered program to help you quit smoking. The result is a free smartphone app that combines a scientifically proven smoking cessation program with cutting-edge ChatGPT technology that’s like having a virtual counselor available to you when you most need it—24 hours a day, 7 days a week. And did you catch that it’s free?
When you download the app, you’ll receive step-by-step guidance on quitting, tools to help you deal with urges to smoke, help staying motivated, and a chance to ask questions. It’s a virtual coach that works with you to set goals, offer encouragement and support, teach you skills to cope with cravings, and help you recover from lapses.
Ready to Meet Ellen and Quit Smoking for Good?
How Does QuitBot Work?
QuitBot is a comprehensive quit smoking program with 42 days of 3- to 5-minute focused conversations over 2 phases. Here’s what you can expect:
- 14 days of preparation before your official “quit date”
- 28 days of support after your quit date
- Guidance on topics ranging from motivations to quit, setting a quit date, choosing FDA-approved medications, identifying and coping with a wide range of triggers, and recovering from lapses or relapses
- Interactions with an avatar persona called Ellen
Who is Ellen?
Ellen is the avatar that will help you quit. Like any good coach, she will check with you a couple of times a day to offer praise and encouragement, share charts that show your progress, and teach you skills to stay motivated or deal with cravings.
Each day Ellen will ask you for a quick update followed by a guided conversation topic for the day. The interactions with these guided topics steer the conversation for the rest of the day and future days.
Meet the QuitBot Creator
Dr. Bricker has spent his career creating innovative new ways to help people quit smoking and lose weight. For over 2 decades, he has developed behavior change programs delivered in person, by telephone, on websites, and on smartphone apps. Recent advances in AI technology have conversational tools (commonly known as “chatbots”) widely available. It is this technology that spawned the idea of QuitBot. In his initial planning of the bot, a chance meeting with a Microsoft computer scientist led him to partner with their AI for Good Lab. Their collaboration is helping thousands of people to quit smoking, for good.
