Digital health firm awarded $500,000 grant for new technology

St. Petersburg-based TAO Connect will use the funds to develop an artificial intelligence application.

By Business Observer Staff
| 2:54 p.m. July 12, 2019
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Sherry Benton, founder of TAO Connect. Courtesy photo.

Tampa Bay-Lakeland

ST. PETERSBURG — The National Science Foundation has awarded a $500,000 grant to TAO Connect, a St. Petersburg company that specializes in technology designed to improve access to behavioral health therapy.

According to a press release, the funds will aid the development of an online “chatbot” — a virtual coach or counselor, of sorts — powered by artificial intelligence. The chatbot will respond to emotions and use evidence-based techniques and models to help users deal with behavioral health problems.