Google, the company known for its search engine and smartphones, is now setting its sights on making healthcare better for everyone. Karen DeSalvo, Google’s chief health officer, recently shared the company’s plans at a big healthcare conference in Amsterdam.
Key points
Google isn’t trying to replace doctors or make medicine. Instead, they want to use their technology skills to help people stay healthy and support healthcare workers. They’re focusing on three main areas: prevention, partnerships, and platforms.
For prevention, Google is using its popular services like YouTube to share trusted health information. For example, someone with diabetes could find videos about healthy eating and exercise tips from reliable sources.
Google is also teaming up with hospitals and health agencies. In the UK, they’re working on an AI tool that can help read mammograms faster. This could mean women get their breast cancer screening results more quickly.
The company is also creating digital platforms for healthcare. These are like toolkits that doctors and researchers can use to do their jobs better. One example is an app that helps health workers in Kenya support pregnant women.
A big part of Google’s plan involves artificial intelligence (AI). This is computer technology that can learn and solve problems in smart ways. Google has created an AI called AlphaFold that can predict the shapes of proteins in our bodies. This could help scientists discover new medicines more quickly.
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DeSalvo says that while AI is exciting, it’s not a magic solution. She believes that to really improve health, we need a mix of new technology, fair access to healthcare, and basic things like vaccines.
Google is also aware that providing health information comes with big responsibilities. During the COVID-19 pandemic, they learned how important it is to give people accurate facts. They’re working hard to make sure the health information people find through Google is trustworthy.
The company hopes that by sharing many of their tools for free, other people will use and improve them. This could lead to even more new ideas for making healthcare better around the world.
In the end, Google’s goal is to use its tech know-how to help more people stay healthy and get good care when they need it. They believe that by working together with healthcare providers and using smart technology, we can make big improvements in global health.
