Pilot Trial of the First Conversational Agent for Smoking Cessation (QuitBot)

Conversational agents (CAs) are computer-powered digital coaches designed to form long-term social-emotional connections with users through conversations. We have developed a CA for cigarette smoking cessation. In a pilot randomized trial (N = 415), we will compare the experimental messaging program (n = 155) with the standard of care national government smoking cessation messaging program (n = 157), and then we will compare immediate (n=51) versus delayed (n=51) access to the the experimental messaging program, to assess 12-week usability, receptivity, and preliminary cessation results in adults in western Washington State and nationally across the US who want to quit smoking.