Most of us know what it's like to suffer the consequences of less-than-wise choices made the night before – 'I should have eaten something' ... 'I should have drunk more water' ... 'I should have left before the shots started'.
The creators of the new chatbot Sober Self think they may have a solution.
Photo: flickr/ Mislav Marohnić
The chatbot sends users messages from their sober selves via Facebook Messenger which can remind them to go home at a certain time, keep up the water levels or get some food in.
Sober Self was designed by the responsible drinking campaign Cheers! in partnership with the ridesharing app Uber.
The aim is not to have an automated nag, says the executive director of Cheers!, Matt Claridge.
“It’s a chance to plan your night and remind yourself at a pre-determined time with the message that you choose to enter that pops back up and says ‘Hey your intentions were dot-dot-dot. How about we hit the road?’
“And you benefit from a discounted Uber ride home.”
Chatbots are an emerging field for business and also useful for behaviour change and behaviour modification, Claridge says.
“People do have the best intentions when they go out often, and sometimes you just go a little bit too far.
"The majority of New Zealanders sit in the good time or sometimes shameful group of drinkers, it’s for those people to give them the tools and the inclination to think about planning their evening”
You can find the bot on Facebook Messenger by searching for 'Sober Self Bot'.
