AI for Public Health – AI Vision against Candy Threats

In recent years, the matter of public health safety concerning consumable goods has gained increasing prominence. The issue reached a critical point recently when more than 60 primary school students were hospitalized. The culprit? Candies infused with THC that were almost indistinguishable from regular candy. We couldn’t image the fear and uncertainty the children and their guardians experienced. This grave situation calls for a multidisciplinary approach, one where Artificial Intelligence (AI) plays a significant role, specifically multimodal AI models, working alongside public health officials and everyday Jamaicans. 

What Are Multimodal AI Models?

A multimodal model is designed to understand, interpret, and generate insights based on multiple types of data, including but not limited to text and images. This capacity for varied data analysis makes it uniquely suited for complex tasks, such as differentiating harmless candies from harmful counterparts using just a photo.

Our Research

To address the issue of foods harmful to children disguised as ordinary candy, Section 9, a specialized research group in StarApple AI focusing on Social Good and Ethical AI, conducted an experiment using GPT-4V, a multimodal model. The study involved testing 24 popular candies brands, to date, across various scenarios, angles and backgrounds, aiming to discern which ones contained THC or could be harmful to children. This project was mobilized on October 4, 2023 and continues to test and generate useful real-world insights.

The model achieved an accuracy rate of 88%, remarkable! given the complexity of the problem and diversity of candy packaging. While human testers achieved a slightly higher accuracy of 92% on average. The model’s performance demonstrates the significant potential of AI-driven solutions in public health safety.

Expanding the Scope 

The utilization of this multimodal model isn’t confined to identifying unsafe candies. It is inherently adaptable and can be further trained to analyze packaging designs for compliance with local regulations, generate safety recommendations, and more. As AI technologies continue to mature, their applicability in safeguarding public health can only be expected to grow. 

This a Global Issue

It’s worth noting that incidents of THC poisoning due to misleading candies have been reported since at least 2019 in multiple countries, including the US, Canada, and the UK. The integration of AI models like the one used by Section 9 can serve as an invaluable tool in the toolbox of public health workers, citizens, and regulatory bodies, mitigating the risks associated with purchasing and consuming unsafe products.

AI and Public Welfare

We are at a critical juncture where technology and public health intersect. This study signifies a step in utilizing AI for real-world applications that can have immediate and long-lasting impact. With continuous advancements in scientific techniques, AI’s role in enhancing public safety is not just promising—it is inevitable.

A.I Researcher:

Adrian Dunkley

Forbes Technology Council

15+ years in AI Developer and Research

CEO, StarApple AI, Jamaica’s 1st AI company