What is PHAS?

In October 2023, Peking University GHD constructed a Planetary Health Axis System, or PHAS, an AI-driven large dynamic global digital system aiming to track human civilization footprints in relation to the well identified Planetary Boundaries. PHAS builds on four major axes—human health, species health, environment health and societal health—which are quantified by over 48000 key variables across the planet. Conceived as a“digital compass,” this system aims to steer us through planetary health challenges of our time.

PHAS Global Launch

Professor Ilona Kickbusch and Professor Bernhard Schwartländer moderating the event

Ilona Kickbusch, Professor at Global Health Centre at the Graduate Institute in Geneva, and Bernhard Schwartländer, Distinguished Research Professor of Global Health at GHD, former WHO Assistant Director-General – moderated the discussions with panelists and the experts in the audience. In their introduction, they underscored the“innovative alliance between traditional scientists and AI researchers,” driving the need to explain, test and manage large-model systems like PHAS. Dr. John Amuasi, Dr. Liu Haiguang, Prof. Gordon G. Liu, Prof. Dame Sally Davies, Dr. Susan Thomas, Dr. Tobias Schuster, and Sir. Andrew Haines joined the discussions.

There was a strong interest and constructive engagement of the experts in the session. Global experts concurred that the COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the complexity of global health, highlighting the urgent need for integrated solutions. They emphasized that the“One Health” approach aligns closely with the PHAS framework, which comprehensively integrates social, human, species, and environmental health. While leveraging AI’s potential, participants stressed that human oversight, information verification, and system transparency are fundamental to building public and policy trust, with strong warnings issued about mitigating risks associated with AI“hallucinations” through rigorous evaluation. The PHAS project was presented as a dynamic tool for tracking personal and planetary health risks, designed to inform decision-making on macro challenges like economic growth and equity. To ensure its effective adoption, experts recommended demonstrating PHAS’s value through policy-relevant use cases. Discussions also highlighted the critical importance of data governance, privacy, and equitable access for low-income nations. Ultimately, the success of PHAS hinges on fostering a global collaborative network that prioritizes responsible innovation, local capacity building, and continuous verification.

Sir Jeremy Farrar delivering closing remarks

Wrapping up the conference, Sir Jeremy Farrar, Chief Scientist at the World Health Organization, called for immediate action as we stand at a turning point in history, highlighting the purpose of science to promote justice, not exacerbate inequality. While AI technology can help to discover research gaps, its limitations must be clearly recognized, so that we can leverage this technology for the betterment of practical problems in everyday life, a message that strongly resonates as we grapple with the proliferation of disruptive technology.