At the World Conference on Tobacco Control in Dublin (23–25 June), experts said artificial intelligence can help prevent tobacco companies from targeting young people online. They warned that social media and bright, candy-like products are drawing youth into addiction, and that poorer countries bear the heaviest burden.
Delegates described AI-based efforts now in use. In Indonesia, the Free Net from Tobacco coalition uses AI to identify YouTube videos with cigarette promotion, and reporting those videos has closed many accounts. Vital Strategies’ Canary monitoring service operates in Mexico, India and Indonesia and has reached more than 4 million people in India, where community teams create anti-tobacco content in the same digital formats as tobacco manufacturers.
Researchers reported other uses of AI. A team at Fudan University tested an AI-driven mobile health programme in a trial of 8,000 smokers; the intervention group had an 18% quit rate versus 7% in the control group. WHO’s director-general warned that e-cigarettes, heated tobacco and nicotine pouches need regulation to protect public health.
Difficult words
- target — to aim actions at a particular person or grouptargeting
- addiction — strong need to use a substance, hard to stop
- burden — a heavy problem or responsibility for people
- coalition — a group of people or organizations working together
- monitoring — watching and checking activities over time
- intervention — an action to change a situation or outcome
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Do you think AI tools can help reduce youth tobacco use in your country? Why or why not?
- How could community teams use the same digital formats as tobacco companies to discourage smoking?
- What rules would you suggest to protect young people from e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches?
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