Exploring the potential of customized AI chatbots in food policy research: Capabilities and constraints in comparative perspective

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools are rapidly transforming the way people work, providing opportunities for improving efficiency, accelerating innovations, and supporting human decision making. The area of policymaking is no exception. To explore the advantages and disadvantages of customized chatb...

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Main Author: Benson, Todd
Format: Artículo preliminar
Language:Inglés
Published: International Food Policy Research Institute 2023
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/137261
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author Benson, Todd
author_browse Benson, Todd
author_facet Benson, Todd
author_sort Benson, Todd
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools are rapidly transforming the way people work, providing opportunities for improving efficiency, accelerating innovations, and supporting human decision making. The area of policymaking is no exception. To explore the advantages and disadvantages of customized chatbots for supporting food policy research, we created a virtual food policy expert using a customized AI system using training literature drawn from about two dozen food policy research reports or food policy documents. A range of questions seeking food policy advice were then posed to the chatbot to better understand the limits to its expertise, the accuracy of its responses, and the value it might offer users seeking specific advice to guide the formulation and implementation of food policy related strategies and programs. A relatively simple comparative assessment was made of the results obtained from asking the same food policy-related questions to different AI sources, including the customized AI virtual food policy expert. Overall, we found that AI -based chatbots can be useful tools for summarizing research and providing “first cut” information only. We also conclude that, while customized chatbots have the advantage of offering the possibility of uploading pre-selected papers, unless a large amount of information is uploaded or the chatbot is also allowed by design to draw on information from other sources including the internet, the responses the virtual coach provides may be limited to only a small and specific set of questions. To be more credible and useful for policymakers, chatbots need to be enabled to provide more specific information. For the foreseeable future, providing such detailed and often country-specific information will still be in the hands of human experts.
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spelling CGSpace1372612025-11-06T07:45:48Z Exploring the potential of customized AI chatbots in food policy research: Capabilities and constraints in comparative perspective Benson, Todd artificial intelligence policy innovation innovation technology adoption research Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools are rapidly transforming the way people work, providing opportunities for improving efficiency, accelerating innovations, and supporting human decision making. The area of policymaking is no exception. To explore the advantages and disadvantages of customized chatbots for supporting food policy research, we created a virtual food policy expert using a customized AI system using training literature drawn from about two dozen food policy research reports or food policy documents. A range of questions seeking food policy advice were then posed to the chatbot to better understand the limits to its expertise, the accuracy of its responses, and the value it might offer users seeking specific advice to guide the formulation and implementation of food policy related strategies and programs. A relatively simple comparative assessment was made of the results obtained from asking the same food policy-related questions to different AI sources, including the customized AI virtual food policy expert. Overall, we found that AI -based chatbots can be useful tools for summarizing research and providing “first cut” information only. We also conclude that, while customized chatbots have the advantage of offering the possibility of uploading pre-selected papers, unless a large amount of information is uploaded or the chatbot is also allowed by design to draw on information from other sources including the internet, the responses the virtual coach provides may be limited to only a small and specific set of questions. To be more credible and useful for policymakers, chatbots need to be enabled to provide more specific information. For the foreseeable future, providing such detailed and often country-specific information will still be in the hands of human experts. 2023-12-10 2024-01-05T20:52:49Z 2024-01-05T20:52:49Z Working Paper https://hdl.handle.net/10568/137261 en Open Access application/pdf International Food Policy Research Institute Benson, Todd. 2023. Exploring the potential of customized AI chatbots in food policy research: Capabilities and constraints in comparative perspective. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). https://hdl.handle.net/10568/137261
spellingShingle artificial intelligence
policy innovation
innovation
technology adoption
research
Benson, Todd
Exploring the potential of customized AI chatbots in food policy research: Capabilities and constraints in comparative perspective
title Exploring the potential of customized AI chatbots in food policy research: Capabilities and constraints in comparative perspective
title_full Exploring the potential of customized AI chatbots in food policy research: Capabilities and constraints in comparative perspective
title_fullStr Exploring the potential of customized AI chatbots in food policy research: Capabilities and constraints in comparative perspective
title_full_unstemmed Exploring the potential of customized AI chatbots in food policy research: Capabilities and constraints in comparative perspective
title_short Exploring the potential of customized AI chatbots in food policy research: Capabilities and constraints in comparative perspective
title_sort exploring the potential of customized ai chatbots in food policy research capabilities and constraints in comparative perspective
topic artificial intelligence
policy innovation
innovation
technology adoption
research
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/137261
work_keys_str_mv AT bensontodd exploringthepotentialofcustomizedaichatbotsinfoodpolicyresearchcapabilitiesandconstraintsincomparativeperspective