For Immediate Release: Oct. 13, 2025
Media Contacts: Katelyn Deckelbaum, katelyn [dot] deckelbaum
gwu [dot] edu (katelyn[dot]deckelbaum[at]gwu[dot]edu) and Kathy Fackelmann, kfackelmanngwu [dot] edu (kfackelmann[at]gwu[dot]edu)
A pilot study led by researchers at the George Washington University found that people who smoke were open to using a specialized ChatGPT-based chatbot, called BeFreeBot, to help them quit smoking. The research team sought to assess the feasibility and acceptability of the tool among smokers, as well as the tool’s reliability. A majority of participants who engaged the chatbot were highly satisfied with the tool, according to the study.
The findings, published in JMIR Formative Research, suggest that AI chatbots could strengthen existing smoking cessation programs by providing real-time, personalized counseling via text message.
The study integrated BeFreeBot into an automated text-messaging program, called BeFree, designed to help people quit smoking. Among the 23 participants enrolled, nearly 70% engaged with the chatbot, sending an average of 14 messages. Most participants reported high satisfaction with BeFreeBot (72%), found its responses easy to understand (94%), and said they trusted its guidance (71%). More than half agreed the chatbot was helpful for quitting.
“Quitting smoking is difficult, and people may need constant support through the process,” said Lorien Abroms, senior author of the study and professor of prevention and community health at the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health. “By combining proven text-messaging programs with a responsive, AI-powered chatbot, we can offer smokers a new tool that feels personal, accessible, and available whenever they need it.”
Other findings include:
- High Satisfaction and Trust: Most participants rated BeFreeBot positively, with many saying they would recommend it to a friend.
- Promising Quit Outcomes: Nearly 90% made a quit attempt during the study, and about 30% reported being smoke-free for at least 7 days one month after enrolling in the study..
- Strong Chatbot Performance: Analysis of over 300 chatbot responses showed that BeFreeBot stayed on topic, used clear language, expressed empathy, and provided guidance consistent with the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendations.
The researchers note that this is one of the first studies to test a generative AI chatbot accessed via text message among smokers actively trying to quit.
“Generative AI holds great potential for scaling health interventions,” David Broniatowski, study co-investigator,professor of engineering at GWU’s School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, said. “Our findings show that, with the right guardrails, chatbots like BeFreeBot could play an important role in helping more people quit smoking.” Broniatowski is Deputy Director of the Trustworthy AI in Law and Society (TRAILS) Institute, which funded this work,
The study, “ChatGPT Chatbot for Help Quitting Smoking via Text Messaging: A Feasibility and Acceptability Study” was published in JMIR Formative Research.
Broll footage available here.
-GW-