Amazon launches Health AI to answer medical questions and connect users with doctors

Amazon Health

• Amazon expands Health AI access to website and mobile app
• Health AI helps with medical queries, records, and appointments
• Prime members get free consults with One Medical doctors.

Did our AI summary help?

Amazon on Tuesday announced that it is expanding access to its healthcare-focused artificial intelligence assistant to its main website and mobile app.

The tool, called Health AI, had previously been available only within the app of One Medical, the primary-care provider Amazon acquired for $3.9 billion in 2023.

Health AI is designed to help users with a range of medical-related tasks, including answering health questions, interpreting medical records, managing prescription renewals, and booking appointments. According to Amazon, people do not need to be Prime subscribers or One Medical members to start using the assistant.

The company says the assistant can respond to general health queries without accessing a person’s medical records. However, the system is intended to function as a personalised health assistant when users choose to share information, allowing it to provide more tailored guidance and connect individuals with healthcare professionals or treatment options.

At the same time, concerns remain about sharing sensitive medical information with AI tools. Researchers have warned that users should be cautious when discussing personal health details with chatbots, as companies may use conversations to train future models.

Amazon says its Health AI models are trained using “abstracted patterns” rather than directly identifiable patient data. For instance, if multiple users ask questions about medication interactions, the system may learn from those patterns to improve future responses while keeping personal identities private.

The company added that all interactions with Health AI occur in a HIPAA-compliant environment, with conversations protected through encryption and strict access controls. Amazon has not publicly detailed how the encryption works or who can access the data.

With user consent, Health AI can also access medical information through the Health Information Exchange, a nationwide system that allows secure sharing of patient data between healthcare providers.

This access enables the assistant to interpret lab results, diagnoses, and medical records, potentially providing more personalised responses to questions about symptoms, medications, or treatment options.

If professional care is required, the assistant can connect users with doctors from One Medical. Prime members in the U.S. will receive up to five free direct-message consultations with One Medical providers for more than 30 common conditions, including cold and flu, allergies, acid reflux, pink eye, urinary tract infections, erectile dysfunction, hair loss and certain skincare concerns.

Users without a Prime subscription can still connect with One Medical clinicians through a pay-per-visit option.

People interested in using the assistant can sign up through the Amazon Health page. As the rollout expands, users will receive an email notification once the service becomes available to them.

After gaining access, users must create or sign in to an Amazon Health profile and can begin chatting with Health AI by typing questions on Amazon’s website or in the mobile app.

Typical queries could include questions such as asking the assistant to explain cholesterol test results or seeking guidance on symptoms like congestion and sore throat.