How Artificial Intelligence Is Revolutionizing The Mhealth Industry

In recent years, the development of artificial intelligence and access to more advanced data has helped the field of medicine take huge leaps, boosting efforts in research, diagnosis, and treatment.

- Ben Dickinson

Mobile health is one of the domains that is benefiting immensely from this technology. AI algorithms, sensor technology, and advanced data are helping transform smartphones into full health-management platforms.

The evolution of mHealth and digital health assistants can drive the next revolution in the healthcare industry. This can be seen in improved availability of healthcare services, increased efficiency in the treatment process, reduced costs, and the creation unprecedented opportunities for preventive care.

Soon the devices we already carry everywhere with us can become an integral part of living a healthier life.

HOW AI ASSISTANTS IMPROVE HEALTHCARE

At the heart of the mHealth revolution are AI-powered health assistants: conversational agents that have their own independent applications or that can be integrated as chatbots into popular messenger apps. Users chat with these agents as they would with a doctor, telling them their symptoms, such as a headache or stomach ache. And as a doctor would, the agent asks follow-up questions—about other probable symptoms they may have overlooked, for one—and give users a personalized assessment of their health conditions as well as recommendations on what steps they should take.

These assistants have helped transform mHealth apps from a simple static source of information into smart platforms for personalized pre-primary care and assisted self-care provision. Machine learning algorithms enable these applications to analyze user-specific data such as symptoms and past history, and to provide answers and guidance that are tailored for each user. Natural language processing and generation (NLP/NLG) help replace rigid user interfaces with more flexible and friendly interactions and a more natural experience.