From Code to Care

Building AI virtual humans for accessible and ethical healthcare support

Abstract

This paper presents the evolution of clinical virtual reality (VR) systems toward AI-driven virtual human (VH) agents for healthcare support. Building on decades of research, we describe the progression from early VR exposure systems to conversational VH platforms such as SimCoach, Battle Buddy, and the Sidekick platform. We highlight user-centered design efforts, mobile deployment strategies, research, and ethical challenges, including safety, bias, and clinical scope. The work demonstrates how VH systems can improve access to care while emphasizing the need for responsible design and human oversight.