askNivi

About

askNivi is a retrieval-based chatbot operating in India, Kenya, and Nigeria. It aims to improve access to local healthcare information and connects users with trusted providers. Nivi prioritizes equitable outcomes for all demographics, utilizing gender-aware auditing to reduce bias.

Impact

The project contributes to increased access and use of healthcare services. In Kenya, askNivi has partnered with Ipas, where Nivi referrals contributed to a 4% increase in the total number of medication abortions provided through Ipas's networks. The tool connects users to trusted healthcare providers, offering referrals to nearby physicians and digital resources. While the total reach of over 1.5 million registered users. To address potential biases, askNivi employs gender-aware auditing, and they have developed a specific tool to evaluate user interactions and the platform's responses based on gender during the development process, aiming to optimise for equitable outcomes.

Responsible AI practices

askNivi's foundational approach is "do no harm," and prioritises avoiding of actionable misinformation that could endanger users. The tool also encourages a "go slowly" approach to AI integration; instead of fully relying on generative AI to create content, they use LLMs primarily to interpret and categorise user messages, delivering curated, expert-generated content from their library. This limits the risk associated with potentially inaccurate AI outputs for sensitive health topics.They also conduct human evaluations as part of integrating AI into the product.