"AI-Powered Phone App Detects Depression from Facial Cues"

Researchers at Dartmouth have developed MoodCapture, a smartphone app that uses AI and facial-image processing to detect early symptoms of depression by analyzing facial expressions and surroundings captured by the phone's front camera. In a study of 177 people with major depressive disorder, the app identified early signs of depression with 75% accuracy. The technology could be publicly available within five years and aims to provide nonintrusive, real-time support for individuals with depression, potentially closing the gap between when intervention is needed and access to mental health resources. The app's developers plan to enhance its diagnostic ability, reinforce privacy measures, and fine-tune the AI model based on individual user data.