1. Introduction

At the Long COVID Companion, we are committed to developing and using artificial intelligence in a responsible, ethical, and transparent manner. This Responsible AI Policy outlines our approach to ensuring that our AI systems are designed and deployed with integrity, fairness, and respect for user privacy and autonomy.

Our AI assistant, Emma, is designed to provide supportive guidance and information for Long COVID patients. We recognize the sensitive nature of health data and the importance of maintaining trust in our AI systems.

2. Our AI Principles

2.1 Human-Centered Design

Our AI systems are designed to augment human capabilities, not replace human judgment, especially in healthcare contexts. Emma provides support and information but always reminds users to consult with healthcare professionals for medical advice.

2.2 Fairness and Inclusion

We strive to ensure our AI systems are fair and inclusive, avoiding biases related to race, gender, age, disability, or other protected characteristics. We regularly audit our AI systems for potential biases and work to correct them.

2.3 Transparency and Explainability

We believe in transparency about when and how AI is being used. Users are always informed when they are interacting with AI systems, and we work to make our AI's recommendations and insights as explainable as possible.

2.4 Privacy and Security

We implement robust data protection measures for all AI operations. User data used for AI training or personalization is protected in accordance with our Privacy Policy and applicable data protection regulations.

2.5 Accountability

We take responsibility for the AI systems we develop and deploy. We have established governance structures to oversee the ethical implications of our AI systems and respond to concerns from users and other stakeholders.

3. Emma AI Assistant Implementation

3.1 Purpose and Limitations

Emma is designed to provide general information about Long COVID, help users track and understand their symptoms, and offer evidence-based wellness suggestions. Emma is not designed to:

Diagnose medical conditions
Prescribe treatments or medications
Replace professional medical advice
Make definitive predictions about health outcomes

3.2 Data Usage and Training

Emma is trained on carefully curated medical literature, clinical guidelines, and research about Long COVID. User interactions with Emma are used to improve responses only with explicit consent, and all data is anonymized before being used for system improvements.

3.3 Human Oversight

Our team regularly reviews Emma's responses to ensure accuracy and appropriateness. We maintain human oversight of all AI-generated content and have systems in place for prompt correction of inaccurate or potentially harmful information.

4. User Control and Autonomy

We respect user autonomy and provide clear controls over AI features:

Users can enable or disable AI features at any time
Users can delete their conversation history with Emma
Users can opt out of having their interactions used for improving the system
Users can request human review of AI-generated recommendations

5. Continuous Improvement and Evaluation

We are committed to the continuous improvement of our AI systems through:

Regular evaluation of accuracy, relevance, and helpfulness
Monitoring for unintended consequences or emergent biases
Incorporating user feedback into system improvements
Staying current with the latest research on Long COVID
Consulting with healthcare professionals and ethicists

6. Regulatory Compliance

We are committed to complying with all applicable laws and regulations related to AI, including but not limited to:

The EU Artificial Intelligence Act
Health data protection regulations (HIPAA, GDPR health provisions)
Consumer protection laws
Anti-discrimination legislation

We monitor regulatory developments and update our practices accordingly to ensure ongoing compliance.

7. Feedback and Reporting Concerns

We welcome feedback on our AI systems and take concerns seriously. If you believe our AI system has provided inaccurate, biased, or potentially harmful information, please report it immediately to:

Email: ai-concerns@longcovidcompanion.com
Within the app: Using the "Report Issue" feature in the AI chat interface

All reports are reviewed by our AI ethics team, and we commit to addressing legitimate concerns promptly.

8. Updates to This Policy

As AI technology and best practices evolve, we will update this policy accordingly. We will notify users of significant changes and maintain previous versions for reference.

9. Contact Information

For questions or concerns about our Responsible AI practices, please contact:

AI Ethics Office: ai-ethics@longcovidcompanion.com
Phone: +1-555-AI-ETHICS