Health Chatbots Are Here, Heavily Funded, And We’ll Have To Get Used To Them

"Gratitude journaling. Just the thought of it makes me grumpy. To make matters worse, it’s the advice that not one, but two separate mental health chatbots offered after a diagnostic on my state of mind.
Now, don’t misunderstand. I have nothing against gratitude. Or journaling, for that matter. Most of us could probably benefit from time spent reflecting on what makes us thankful.
But is it really appropriate to hear that from an AI-enabled software platform filling in as therapist? Shouldn’t it come from an actual human?.
Probably in the future it will all seem normal. That’s because however one may currently feel about chatbot health advice, startup investment data indicates it’s only getting more widespread.
Over the past two years, investors have poured more than $800 million into an assortment of companies developing chatbots and other AI-enabled platforms for health diagnostics and care recommendations, per Crunchbase data.
The space is poised to see its first big exit shortly. Telehealth startup Babylon Health announced plans to go public at a $4.2 billion equity valuation through a merger with blank-check acquirer Alkuri Global Acquisition Corp.
London-based Babylon is by far the most heavily funded player in the AI-enabled health chatbot space, having previously raised more than $630 million in known funding, per Crunchbase data. Its service does not purport to take the place of a doctor, but does seek to assist in diagnosing symptoms and helping users figure out next steps..." Lire la suite