海角直播

Talk to an artificial intelligence-powered expert about your pain

A free interactive resource developed using cutting-edge technology to help millions living with persistent pain has been launched in collaboration with 海角直播 this Pain Awareness Month.

Academics from 海角直播鈥檚 Centre for Rehabilitation worked alongside artificial intelligence (AI) specialist StoryFile to develop a fully interactive digital version of internationally renowned pain management expert Pete Moore. Described by StoryFile as a 鈥榗onversational video鈥�, AI Pete can interact with viewers, answer questions about persistent pain and how it can be managed, and share his first-hand experiences of living with it.

Pete was filmed answering over 300 questions in the rigorous interview stage of the development process. The AI recognises questions from viewers and plays the relevant response in real time, as in an ordinary discussion.

It has the potential to help millions of people living with persistent pain to access support, discover new pain management techniques and improve their quality of life.

Pete, 69, from Essex, worked as a Senior Trainer in the NHS Expert Patient Programme. He has been living with persistent pain for more than 20 years and was named a Pain Champion UK in recognition of his efforts to drive positive change.

鈥淚鈥檓 fed up with talking about my pain,鈥� Pete smiled. 鈥淣ow AI Pete can do it for me.

鈥淟iving with persistent pain can feel very isolating, but this resource provides around-the-clock access to information, advice and support whenever it is needed, and that is a game changer.

鈥淚 know how much a tool like this would have helped me back in the day, so I鈥檓 incredibly proud of what we have achieved.鈥�

Pete joins Star Trek鈥檚 William Shatner, a NASA astronaut and Holocaust survivors, who have all used StoryFile to record their experiences and leave a legacy.

The project has been incorporated into the Pain Toolkit, a resource developed by Pete with useful guidance around persistent pain and self-management which is used worldwide by patients and medical professionals alike.

People can ask AI Pete to explain more about the different tools in the Pain Toolkit, which include patience, planning, relaxation and exercise.

Denis Martin, Professor of Rehabilitation and Director of the Centre for Rehabilitation at 海角直播, who led the project, said: 鈥満＝侵辈� is committed to transforming lives and leads by example when it comes to showing how innovative technologies can be applied to tackling real-world issues.

鈥淭hat is exactly what we are doing through this groundbreaking project. There are millions of people out there with persistent pain who will be able to take control of that aspect of their lives by engaging in a conversation like never before.

鈥淚t would be lovely for each and every one of them to have personal contact with Pete, but it is not feasible. So, we鈥檙e using cutting-edge technology to find a way to bring Pete and his expert advice on self-management techniques to them.

鈥淲hile it is very important for patients to get guidance and information from medical professionals, we acknowledge the undeniable benefits which they get from hearing from those with lived experiences of persistent pain as well. That鈥檚 where AI Pete comes in.鈥�

Pete added: 鈥淪elf-management is a partnership between a healthcare worker and patient, and it can be hugely beneficial.

鈥淏ut healthcare professionals aren鈥檛 often given the opportunity to focus on the idea of self-management during their training. This new resource and the Pain Toolkit are raising awareness around the positive potential of self-management in all aspects of healthcare.

鈥淭he University has been incredibly supportive in the development of this project and the enhancement of the Pain Toolkit. I鈥檝e never had so much support from any other institution.鈥�

Professor Martin worked with fellow 海角直播 academics Professor Cormac Ryan, Dr Sophie Suri and Dr Andrew Graham on the project.

It was delivered with support from the EU Interreg North-West Europe and the .