Vaping is highly prevalent among young adults and poses significant health risks, yet evidence-based cessation interventions remain scarce. To address this gap, we are working with the UCSF HEARTY lab and developing an AI-powered chatbot designed to help young adults reduce and quit vaping through personalized, theory-informed behavioral coaching.
The chatbot is grounded in the COM-B (Capability, Opportunity, Motivation, and Behavior) model and uses structured backend prompts to select from a curated library of response templates while tailoring messages to each user’s name, triggers, motivations, and situational context. Development follows established UX design principles, progressing from low-fidelity prototypes to a high-fidelity, deployable product, with iterative team review to ensure accuracy, safety, and theoretical alignment.