Can AI scale preventative healthcare through hyper-personalized coaching?
When Sam Altman and Arianna Huffington announced the launch of Thrive AI Health in an op-ed in TIME, they opened with an alarming statistic: 129 million Americans have at least one major chronic disease. The startup wants to tackle that with a hyper-personalized AI health coach that offers precise recommendations in real-time. Trained on peer-reviewed science and incorporating behavior change methodology used by Huffington's Thrive Global, Thrive AI Health Coach will offer suggestions related to sleep, food, movement, stress management and social connection. No word yet on pricing or a release date, but the service will be available as a mobile app.
All about prevention
This isn't the first AI-powered health innovation that promises personalized support (see Nvidia's partnership with Hippocratic AI and the NHS's forthcoming rollout of Flok). However, the emphasis here is on preventative healthcare. Thrive AI Health's big promise is that it will 'scale and democratize' customized health nudges, empowering people who want to be healthier without placing more demands on overstretched healthcare systems. Preventative care is much needed.
OPTI-BOTS
Recent research found that 31.3% of the global population (around 1.8 billion people) failed to meet recommended physical activity levels, up from 26% in 2010. That number is projected to rise to 35% by 2030. Smart companions that encourage people to adopt better habits — a trend we've dubbed OPTI-BOTS — could help provide motivation and guide those who don't know where to start.
Not just for better health
Implications ripple beyond healthcare. Once people are accustomed to bots offering a personalized route to better health, they'll look for similar services that coach them through DIY phone repairs, help prepare for job interviews or understand their savings goals. Which knowledge gaps prevent your consumers from reaching their full potential? Can you build AI-powered solutions that meet those needs?
Data control and consumer trust
A final thought: the promise to provide customized insights needs to be accompanied by privacy assurances, which could hold back adoption. When Edelman surveyed people across 12 countries about trust and health, 55% said that, over the next five years, technology will have a negative impact on healthcare, up 8 percentage points from Q1 2018 📈. Unwanted information and compromised health privacy were cited as concerns. Thrive AI Health emphasizes users will have control over data they share, but will that be enough to allay concerns? And how should these uncertainties factor into your own OPTI-BOTS?
