Welcome to Transforming Together: Public Health in the AI Era
A free newsletter about the intersection of AI and public health
Thank you for joining me on this journey into the evolving intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and public health. The name Transforming Together reflects two ideas: the transformative potential of AI and the foundational role of “transformer” technology, which powers many generative AI tools like ChatGPT. Through this newsletter, I’ll explore AI’s promise and challenges in public health, so we can work together to shape a healthier, more equitable world.
Why This Matters Now
In November 2022, ChatGPT made its public debut, and since then, I’ve gone from skeptic to advocate. Over the past two years, I’ve immersed myself in learning about AI in ways that make sense to someone outside the tech world. I’ve experimented with tools like ChatGPT in my daily work and thought deeply about AI’s broader implications for public health.
AI offers fascinating potential, but it also presents significant challenges. This newsletter is about navigating both: exploring possibilities while staying mindful of risks.
Building our Community
This newsletter is a space for building a shared understanding of AI and public health. Together, we’ll learn the language of AI, examine its implications for health equity, and discuss how we can advocate for its responsible use. Whether you’re deeply involved in public health or just curious about the role of AI in advancing equity, you’re welcome here.
What to Expect
Here’s the plan:
• In-Depth Newsletters: Every two weeks, I’ll share a detailed exploration of AI and its impact on public health.
• Weekly Tidbits: On alternating weeks, I’ll send short posts with curated articles, book recommendations, and practical examples of AI in action.
• Interactive Community: Opportunities to share your thoughts, ask questions, and connect with others passionate about health equity and technology.
Let’s Get Started
Thank you for being part of this community. Together, we can navigate the evolving landscape of AI and public health and work toward a future where health equity is within everyone’s reach.
Let’s transform public health—together.
I am looking forward to some perspective (and hopefully dialogue) about this transformation from non-academics or non-tech experts. While I know we need to talk about AI and the future (I found your substack through Ethan Mollick's most recent article), I don't really know what those conversations would look like or how to initiate them. Do we just start talking about how we used AI this week? That is the prompt I used in weekly meetings with my team prior to leaving my job. Most of the time, there were few who could contribute to the conversation, but at least I invited the conversation consistently.
So, thanks for starting this substack.