Microsoft has unveiled a new AI-powered health assistance tool, Copilot Health. Users can now use it to analyse their health records, including laboratory tests, medication history and data from wearable devices, and get personalised insights. It can help patients by making sense of those complicated medical terms. Besides, it has been designed to only rely on credible sources to answer healthcare queries.
Microsoft claims that its new AI health tool can revolutionise healthcare and patient support. “We’re approaching the dawn of medical superintelligence, the moment when affordable, world-class medical knowledge and support is at your fingertips whenever you need it,” said Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman in an X post on the launch of Copilot Health.
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Integrate Wearables, Apps for Personalised Insights
Microsoft Copilot Health can support over 50 wearable devices. It is also compatible with both Fitbit and Apple Health. It can also pull data from hospitals and 50,000 US healthcare providers. Copilot Health will use the data to provide explanations about symptoms, diseases, treatments and medications.
Ava: Audio AI for 24/7 support
Microsoft Copilot Health is also beta testing a voice AI assistant to offer 24/7 healthcare support. It aims to deliver support for assessing symptoms, medication reminders and care coordination.
Designed to Support, Not Replace Doctors
Copilot Health uses data from credible sources like Harvard Health and the Journal of the American Medical Association. To ensure transparency, it also provides links so that users can also verify its text and suggestions.
However, Microsoft asserts that Copilot Health does not intend to replace traditional healthcare providers. Instead, it can be used to find nearby doctors. You can further use filters like speciality, fee, location and insurance coverage.
How Copilot Health Can Assist Users?
While you should not use it as a replacement for doctors, it can help you objectively compare treatment options using prices, facilities and reviews. Besides, patients and their families are using Microsoft Copilot Health to break down medical jargons into simpler terms.
Experts also warn that AI should not be used to replace doctors but to complement healthcare. They advise users to avoid using various automated tools or digital platforms like Google to diagnose themselves and seek professional guidance.
Microsoft Addresses Privacy Concerns
Earlier this year, OpenAI also introduced ChatGPT Health. The development had sparked privacy concerns.
But, Microsoft has assured users that all their Copilot Health chats, with sensitive health data and medical records, are encrypted and kept separate from other Copilot records and normal chats to ensure users’ privacy.
To ensure greater privacy, users’ data received on Copilot Health is not used to train AI models. Users can also choose to delete chats anytime they want for enhanced safety.
What Does It Mean For Users?
By helping users interpret medical records, track regular health data and explore treatment options, AI tools in healthcare like Microsoft Copilot Health could simplify how individuals engage with the healthcare system. It will also lead to more accessible and data-driven patient care. However, artificial intelligence tools in healthcare will also increase the risks of misdiagnosis, misinformation and raise privacy concerns.
Microsoft has currently launched Copilot Health in the United States. While users in other countries eagerly wait for its global launch, its success will depend on how it builds trust and balances innovation with accuracy and privacy.
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