Expanding the Reach of Mindfulness: A Mechanistic Approach and AI Applications

In response to Oman’s “Mindfulness for Global Public Health: Critical Analysis and Agenda” call for greater integration of mindfulness into global public health, this commentary proposes three complementary approaches: examining core psychological mechanisms of mindfulness, understanding its developmental progression, and implementing artificial intelligence (AI) technology to enhance accessibility. The commentary reviews some contemporary theoretical models of mindfulness to identify fundamental psychological mechanisms. Analysis included examination of mindfulness developmental progression (skill to state to trait) and exploration of artificial intelligence applications, specifically large language models (LLMs), in enhancing intervention delivery and accessibility. The identified psychological mechanisms—attention regulation and non-judgemental acceptance—represent fundamental psychological processes that transcend cultural differences, addressing Oman’s concerns about epidemiologic foundations (Axis A6) and cultural adaptability (Axis A10). Analysis of developmental progression revealed how mindfulness evolves from learned skill to psychological trait, informing implementation strategies. Analysis of LLM applications demonstrated potential for addressing equity concerns (Axis A9) through increasing accessibility among underserved populations while enabling culturally responsive adaptations. By examining mindfulness through its core psychological mechanisms, developmental progression, and AI-enabled delivery approaches, this commentary provides perspectives to address some challenges of global implementation identified by Oman. The mechanistic approach strengthens empirical foundations of mindfulness while supporting cultural adaptability, and emerging AI technologies present unprecedented opportunities to increase accessibility. However, realising this potential requires careful attention to ethical considerations and continued empirical validation of AI-supported mindfulness interventions.