Why AI is going to drive the *realest health support we’ve ever known
Artificial intelligence will paradoxically be the missing piece in the human-centred healthcare puzzle
Technological innovation and improvements in people’s lifespans and health have always been intrinsically linked. The invention of the toilet in 1875 is estimated to have saved 1 billion lives alone. From the huge advancements in medical research brought on by the internet age to consumer wearables that give people access to their very own daily health checks (shout out to my WHOOP for constantly reminding me of my start-up induced sleep deprivation), the world has made extraordinary progress in diagnosing, treating, and even curing some of the world’s biggest health problems.
These innovations, along with current health systems have always been strategically focused on the largest, most treatable health conditions in the world. Which makes sense, right? We absolutely should be trying to save the most lives, in the most efficient, reliable and sustainable ways possible.
But what if your health challenge can’t be cured or treated, and instead must be effectively managed, like addiction or most mental health problems? What if your health challenge is chronic and/or nuanced and doesn’t perfectly fit the diagnosed ‘box’? The fact is, while the current health system has been very effective in supporting some health challenges, many of the world’s biggest, most costly, and even most deadly health issues go unsupported because they require personalized care that our current regimented systems just can’t adapt to.
Enter the age of AI.
We are currently witnessing an unprecedented level of learning. While it takes between 10 to 14 years to become a doctor in the US, ChatGPT passed the Medical School exam in minutes. However, this is just child’s play for AI, as AI algorithms can process and analyze unlimited volumes of medical data, including patient records, research papers, and clinical trials. This enables researchers to identify patterns, correlations, and insights that were not apparent to human researchers before (and at an unprecedented rate).
AI can help uncover hidden relationships between genetic factors, environmental variables, and disease outcomes, leading to new discoveries and personalized treatments. Not only that, but it can also translate this information into language that anyone can understand, making health education more accessible than ever before.
Consumers will become the gatekeepers and experts of their own health, no longer beholden to 12–24 month waitlists to see specialists or limited by geo-isolation and/or cost. AI will have the power to understand our personal circumstances and limitations, paving personalized healthcare paths and know how to communicate all of this in consumer-friendly ways.
But there is something even more monumental that AI will do for personalized healthcare: it will make the giant gap between what humans can do and what AI cannot do more blazingly obvious, creating a more critical need for lived experience.
Despite the immense progress AI will bring to healthcare, there are certain aspects of human health that it cannot address, such as trauma, grief, and mental illness. In these vulnerable moments, the need for human connection becomes paramount. AI cannot replace the invaluable role of lived experience in fostering human connection, understanding, and support during our most challenging times.
Have you ever noticed the abundance of mother’s groups, despite the number of obstetricians in the world? This is because, regardless of the technical information available to us, the desire to feel seen, heard, and understood when we feel most challenged will always remain essential. We seek validation that we are not alone, and that a path forward is not only possible, but also attainable.
This is why platforms like Lived, which I founded, play a crucial role in supporting individuals to transform their relationship with alcohol by learning from others who have already walked the path. Lived provides hyper-personalized guidance, harnessing the power of lived experience to champion and inspire others. Because nothing, not even AI, can rival or mimic the inspiration and trust we feel when we know someone has personally experienced something similar to us.
While there are valid concerns about the dangerous disruptions AI can cause the world, I personally couldn’t be more excited for the disruption it will bring to global health systems. I envision a future where AI treats people as individuals, not just a number in a queue. A world where individuals like my mother won’t suffer in isolation for 30 years at the hands of addiction, without answers or support. A future where access to health support is widely available.
By embracing the synergies between AI and lived experience, we can create a future where individuals receive the personalized care they deserve, irrespective of the nature of their health challenges. Platforms like Lived will continue to drive this disruption, ensuring that healthcare remains fundamentally human.
