OpenAI and Arianna Huffington are collaborating to develop an AI Health Coach with funding through Thrive AI Health, an initiative aimed at harnessing the potential of artificial intelligence in the health sector, particularly in personalized health management.
In a Time op-ed, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Huffington revealed that the AI health coach will be trained on peer-reviewed scientific data, as well as personal biometric information, lab results, and other medical information shared by users.
DeCarlos Love, a former Google executive known for developing Fitbit and other wearable products, has been named CEO of Thrive AI Health. The company also has partnerships with academic institutions and medical centers, including the Stanford University School of Medicine, the Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute at West Virginia University and the Alice L. Walton School of Medicine. The Alice L. Walton Foundation is also a strategic investor in the venture.
The trend of AI-powered health coaches is gaining momentum, with companies like Fitbit and Whoop developing similar technology. Thrive AI Health aims to provide easy-to-understand health insights, including meal ideas tailored to specific dietary needs and advice for those with weakened immune systems.
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However, concerns remain about data privacy and the accuracy of health information provided by AI. The bot, which is still in its early stages, is focused on encouraging small positive changes in areas such as sleep, nutrition, fitness, stress management and social connection. It aims to guide users towards a healthier lifestyle rather than providing a medical diagnosis.
The op-ed highlighted the potential benefits of AI in healthcare, including breakthroughs in drug development and diagnostics. Despite these advances, building trust in AI products that handle sensitive health data remains a major challenge for Altman and Huffington.