Amazon Pilots AI-Powered Health Assistant to Expand Digital Healthcare Services

Health AI provides medical guidance, helping users manage symptoms like colds or flu while directing them to Amazon’s health service.

Amazon is testing a generative AI-powered health assistant, Health AI, on its website and mobile app, aiming to provide users with instant health and wellness information.

The chatbot can answer medical queries, suggest common care options, and recommend products.

Some responses carry a “clinically verified” badge, indicating they have been reviewed by US-based licensed clinicians, Amazon confirmed.

The AI tool also integrates with Amazon’s online pharmacy and One Medical, the primary care provider Amazon acquired for $3.9 billion in 2022. This move positions Amazon as a growing force in digital healthcare, using its e-commerce reach to deliver health-focused services.

Currently, in beta testing with a select group of users, Health AI employs natural language processing (NLP) to analyze customer inquiries and generate tailored responses.

Unlike Amazon’s shopping chatbot Rufus, which suggests products, Health AI provides medical guidance, helping users manage symptoms like colds or flu while directing them to Amazon’s health services.

An Amazon spokesperson confirmed that the chatbot has appeared on its app and website in recent weeks. “We are testing this feature with a subset of customers,” the company stated.

However, the service does not offer personalized medical advice, and users are encouraged to seek professional healthcare when needed.

Growing Trend of AI-Chatbots

Amazon’s entry into AI-driven healthcare comes amid increasing competition from both traditional retailers and digital health startups. By integrating AI into its ecosystem, Amazon aims to streamline access to health resources and expand its presence in the medical sector.

Industry experts believe Health AI could disrupt traditional healthcare models, offering consumers faster, data-driven health assistance.

While Amazon still faces regulatory and data privacy challenges, analysts suggest that if executed correctly, this AI-powered assistant could redefine how consumers access health information and care services online.

Stay tuned for more such updates on Digital Health News.