According to a recent Gallup poll, nearly one-third of Americans regularly use generative AI tools like Chat GPT, Microsoft’s Copilot, and Google’s Gemini.
Jennifer Erickson, a 56-year-old self-described tech enthusiast from Maple Grove, Minnesota, relies on AI to help navigate medical decisions for her husband, Carl, a cancer survivor and disabled person. At each visit, Erickson takes meticulous notes of test results, procedures, and follow-up instructions. When she gets home, she organizes and consolidates information by writing notes in ChatGPT. “Ask them to differentiate the pros and cons of each treatment option or summarize the next steps and who will be responsible for what,” she explains. The result was a clear, structured overview that she could review and share, turning what used to take hours of mental organization into minutes of streamlined work. “At Mayo Clinic, you might see nine different medical professionals over the course of a few days,” she says. “Thanks to AI, we can see what everyone said, where we agree and where we differ.”
Roseman looked to Gemini as a time-saving and problem-solving tool. “When you finally have a little time to think at 9:30 p.m., you can ask Gemini a question and get clear, helpful answers without having to go through ads or endless links,” she explains.
“This is especially useful in crisis situations where someone suddenly becomes a caregiver after a medical event or diagnosis and needs to be ‘onboarded’ quickly, even if they have no experience,” says Etkin. “Instead of scrolling through dozens of articles and forums, these tools allow you to quickly summarize the most important points, explain next steps, suggest questions to ask your healthcare team, and point you to trusted resources.”
Experts like Etkin, Miller, and Wang believe there are several ways that generative AI, which creates new content such as text, video, and images based on learned data, can assist caregivers in their daily lives, including:
Administrative assistant. AI consolidates note-taking, organizes by theme, action items, suggests next steps, and schedules and documents appointments, alleviating the ongoing burden on caregivers. For example, voice-activated AI scribes such as Fathom, Otter.AI, and Rev can automatically record observations for medical teams or take notes during doctor visits. In most states, you can legally record anyone participating in a conversation with your doctor, but about a dozen “two-party consent” states, including California, Florida, and Illinois, require you to get everyone’s permission beforehand.
AI tools like Clara can help streamline meeting schedules. If you need to adjust your schedule, CCing Clara in the email thread will work. As long as your online calendar is fully up-to-date, Clara will take over the conversation with your practice and booker, confirming availability, and setting appointment times.
Communication with the medical team. AI tools like ChatGPT, Copilot, and Gemini can integrate medical data, interpret trends, and provide customized recommendations for discussion with your doctor and healthcare team. “AI-generated information should never replace medical advice or a doctor’s recommendation,” Wang says.
Chronic disease management. AI can help monitor chronic diseases like high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart failure by integrating data from wearables like Apple Watch, Fitbit, and Omron HeartGuide. Generate personalized daily checklists, meal plans, and exercise habits based on your personal preferences and health data.
Remote monitoring. AI-powered home robots combine home monitoring with advanced navigation to check on the well-being of loved ones and send alerts if they detect unusual activity. These companion robots, including Amazon’s Astro, ElliQ, and Samsung Ballie, are designed with convenience and privacy in mind, using generative AI to provide personalized advice and track health status and medication adherence. Astro can connect to your blood pressure monitor to track your readings.
social support. Companion robots can also provide engagement, reminders, and social interaction for isolated care recipients and those receiving home care. These tools use generative AI to learn a person’s personality, sense of humor, and interests, which can create more natural and engaging interactions and reduce feelings of loneliness.
The AI revolution has just begun
For caregivers, information can be overwhelming, guidance is scattered, and support can be difficult to find. This is true whether you are a caregiver for someone with Alzheimer’s disease, stroke, diabetes, or cancer.
