Smoking remains the leading preventable cause of cancer and death in the United States. Yet many people trying to quit do so with little support — or with help that isn’t available when they need it most.
Cravings don’t wait for appointments.
Recognizing this gap, researchers at the George Washington University Cancer Center are testing a new approach: an AI-powered chatbot that people can text anytime for immediate guidance, encouragement, and answers. Right when cravings or stress hit.
A New Kind of Support, Available on Demand
The project, led by Lorien Abroms, ScD, explores whether artificial intelligence can extend smoking cessation support beyond scheduled clinic visits or static text messages. The tool is an “AI health coach” that interacts with users through simple text messaging, allowing them to reach out whenever they feel vulnerable to relapse.
If someone feels a sudden craving, anxiety, or uncertainty about quitting, they can text the chatbot and receive a real-time response. The AI offers practical coping strategies, evidence-based quitting advice, and motivational encouragement tailored to the moment.
The chatbot builds on Abroms’ earlier text-based smoking cessation programs, which delivered scheduled messages to support quitting. By adding AI, the team aimed to create a more natural, back-and-forth conversation—one that can respond to users’ questions and needs as they arise.
What Was the Goal of the Study?
This early-stage study, funded by a Katzen Pilot Award grant, was designed to answer a fundamental question: Would people actually use an AI chatbot for smoking cessation, and would they find it helpful and safe?
Rather than measuring long-term quit rates, the researchers focused on feasibility and engagement: key first steps in developing any new digital health tool. They wanted to know whether participants felt comfortable interacting with the AI, whether the responses were understandable and supportive, and whether the tool showed promise for helping people take steps toward quitting.
What Did the Researchers Find?
The results were encouraging.
About 70% of participants asked at least one question during the study, suggesting they were comfortable interacting with the chatbot and using it as a source of support. Most users reported that the AI was easy to understand, helpful, and encouraging.
While the study was not designed to evaluate long-term smoking cessation outcomes, some participants reported early behavior changes. These included cutting back on cigarettes or making an attempt to quit — important milestones on the path toward becoming smoke-free.
Importantly, the chatbot was developed using evidence-based smoking cessation strategies and with safety considerations in mind, building on established public health methods rather than replacing professional care.
Why This Matters
Quitting smoking is one of the most powerful steps a person can take to reduce their risk of cancer and other serious diseases, but it is also one of the most difficult behavior changes to sustain.
Support matters. Timing matters even more.
Moments of craving or stress are when people are most vulnerable to relapse, yet traditional cessation programs often rely on scheduled visits, phone calls, or pre-set messages that may not align with those critical moments. An AI chatbot, available 24/7 through basic text messaging, has the potential to fill that gap.
Because it does not require appointments, smartphones, or constant internet access, this type of tool could also help reach people who face barriers to in-person counseling or regular healthcare.
Looking Ahead
While more research is needed to evaluate long-term effectiveness, this study suggests that AI-powered chatbots may be a feasible and acceptable means of extending smoking-cessation support beyond the clinic.
By meeting people where they are — both physically and emotionally — tools like this could serve as an important addition to existing quit programs, providing immediate, personalized support when it matters most.
About the Researcher
Lorien Abroms, DSc, MA
Professor of Prevention and Community Health; Associate Dean for PhD & MS Programs
Dr. Abroms' research focuses on the application of digital communication technologies for health promotion, including for smoking cessation and vaccine uptake. The aims of her research are to understand the effects of the digital information environment on health and to develop and evaluate evidence-based health promotion programs that run on digital platforms. Dr. Abroms has developed and evaluated several smoking cessation apps and text messaging programs, including Text2Quit, Quit4baby, and SmokefreeMoms which is offered through the National Cancer Institute's Smokefree.gov.
