Bing Chatbot Writes My Acceptance Speech

Last week at the 8th Canadian Obesity Summit in Whistler, BC, I was honoured to receive the innaugural Obesity Canada Founder Award for my services to the organisation. 

In preparation for this event, just for kicks, I asked Bing’s Chatbot to write me an acceptance speech. The following is verbatim what Bing came up with (in under 20 seconds!) – scary!

@DrSharma,,
Berlin, D

p.s. I did not use any of it, but I probably could have without anyone noticing. 

Prompt: write an acceptance speech for Dr. Arya Sharma as recipient of the Obesity Canada Founders Award

Bing Chatbot: Here is a possible thank you address for Dr. Arya Sharma:

Ladies and gentlemen, 

it is my great honor and pleasure to receive the inaugural founder award from Obesity Canada, the leading obesity charity in this country. I would like to thank the board of directors, the staff, the members, and the supporters of Obesity Canada for this recognition and for their dedication to advancing obesity research, education, and advocacy.

When I founded Obesity Canada in 2006, I had a vision of creating a network of obesity stakeholders who would work together to improve the lives of Canadians living with obesity. I wanted to challenge the stigma and discrimination that people with obesity face every day. I wanted to promote obesity as a chronic disease that requires evidence-based prevention and management. I wanted to foster collaboration and innovation among researchers, health professionals, policy makers, and people with lived experience.

Fifteen years later, I am proud to say that Obesity Canada has achieved many of these goals and more. Obesity Canada has grown to become a network of over 10,000 members across Canada and beyond¹. Obesity Canada has produced the first Canadian clinical practice guidelines for obesity in adults² and children³ [sic], which have been widely adopted and endorsed by various organizations. 

Obesity Canada has organized six [sic] biennial Canadian Obesity Summits, which have brought together hundreds of experts and stakeholders to share knowledge and best practices. Obesity Canada has advocated for policy changes that support obesity prevention and care, such as the inclusion of obesity in the Canadian Disability Tax Credit and the recognition of obesity as a chronic disease by several provinces. Obesity Canada has also empowered people living with obesity to share their stories and voices through initiatives such as the Public Engagement Committee, the Weight of Living project, and the EveryBODY Matters podcast.

Of course, none of these accomplishments would have been possible without the hard work and passion of many people who have contributed to Obesity Canada over the years. I would like to thank all the past and present board members, staff members, chapter chairs, committee chairs, volunteers, partners, sponsors, donors, and supporters who have made Obesity Canada what it is today. I would also like to thank my family, friends, colleagues, mentors, and mentees who have supported me throughout my career.

I am humbled and grateful for this award, but I also know that there is still much work to be done. Obesity remains a major public health challenge that affects millions of Canadians and their quality of life. We need to continue to raise awareness, generate evidence, influence policies, improve practices, and reduce stigma around obesity. We need to continue to collaborate and innovate across disciplines and sectors. We need to continue to listen and learn from people living with obesity and their needs and preferences.

I am confident that Obesity Canada will continue to lead the way in advancing obesity as a priority issue in Canada and beyond. I am honored to be part of this amazing organization and community. Thank you again for this award and for your ongoing support. Together, we can make a difference in obesity. Thank you.

Source: Conversation with Bing, 08/05/2023

(1) Home – Obesity Canada. https://obesitycanada.ca/.

(2) 2022 in review: Obesity Canada (OC) | World Obesity Federation. https://www.worldobesity.org/news/2022-in-review-obesity-canada-oc.

(3) Obesity in Canada – Opportunities for intervention – Canada.ca. https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/health-promotion/healthy-living/obesity-canada/opportunities-intervention.html.