A New AI Can Use Metrics to Assess Depression on Instagram
Mishal Omar — August 22, 2016 — Lifestyle
References: digitaltrends & dpreview
Researchers from Harvard and the University of Vermont have developed a machine that uses a variety of metrics to accurately assess people's mental health based on their Instagram photos.
The artificial intelligence uses people's photos, meta data and facial recognition tools to identify and track their emotional state. The machine looked at thousands of photos from 166 Instagram users and was found to have a 70% accuracy rate in identifying clinical depression -- more capable than general practitioners. Features of photos including lighting, filter colors and facial expressions are all signifiers that the AI uses to determine who is clinically depressed.
This machine's ability to process a variety of different metrics with relatively accurate outcomes could have potential uses in the field of psychiatry.
The artificial intelligence uses people's photos, meta data and facial recognition tools to identify and track their emotional state. The machine looked at thousands of photos from 166 Instagram users and was found to have a 70% accuracy rate in identifying clinical depression -- more capable than general practitioners. Features of photos including lighting, filter colors and facial expressions are all signifiers that the AI uses to determine who is clinically depressed.
This machine's ability to process a variety of different metrics with relatively accurate outcomes could have potential uses in the field of psychiatry.
Trend Themes
1. AI-enabled Mental Health Assessment - The use of artificial intelligence to assess people's mental health based on their Instagram photos presents a disruptive innovation for the mental health industry.
2. Facial Recognition Tools for Depression Detection - Utilizing facial recognition tools as a measure of emotional state could be a disruptive innovation for the healthcare industry, specifically psychiatry.
3. Instagram as a Mental Health Assessment Tool - The use of Instagram as a tool for assessing mental health presents a disruptive innovation opportunity for social media and healthcare industries.
Industry Implications
1. Mental Healthcare Industry - The mental healthcare industry could adopt the use of AI to facilitate more accurate mental health assessments for patients.
2. Healthcare Industry - Integrating facial recognition tools for depression detection in healthcare facilities presents a disruptive innovation opportunity.
3. Social Media Industry - The incorporation of mental health assessment tools in social media platforms like Instagram could be a disruptive innovation for the industry.
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