Image: screengrab from up.edu.ph
MANILA, Philippines—The University of the Philippines Resilience Institute (UPRI) has launched an artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot called Yani, the “Endcovbot” that can provide information on government policies in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic as Luzon and other parts of the country are placed under an enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).
The newest AI member of the UP COVID-19 Pandemic Response Team can direct users to government policies on health, education, transportation, and economic support. It can also help in finding hospitals, as well as link people to psychosocial support specialists for people in need of mental and emotional help.
Yani, short for “baYANIhan,” was named as such “in honor of our heroes in the fight against COVID-19,” UP on Wednesday said on its website.
The UP Diliman Psychosocial Services is offering free telepsychotherapy to everyone “who is affected or disturbed by the COVID-19 pandemic,” according to Yani.
People can access Yani directly through Facebook Messenger or through UP’s web portal Endcov.ph dedicated to providing information regarding the COVID-19 situation in the country.
De La Salle University meanwhile is also offering free mental health counseling services to students, frontliners, and those infected with COVID-19, and those considered patients under investigation or persons under monitoring amid the ECQ.