Amazon is launching an AI assistant for healthcare on its website and app

Amazon announced Tuesday that it is expanding access to its healthcare AI assistant on its website and app. The assistant, called Health AI, was previously only available on the One Medical app, the healthcare company that Amazon acquired for $3.9 billion in 2023.

Health AI can answer questions, explain health records, manage prescription renewals, book appointments, and more. Amazon says users don’t need to be Prime subscribers or One Medical members to use the Assistant.

Amazon says that while Health AI can answer general health questions without access to an individual’s medical information, it is designed to serve as a personal health assistant that can provide more personalized guidance and take actions, such as connecting you to health care professionals and treatments.

Of course, there are risks associated with sharing your health information with AI, and researchers are wary of doing so, warning that companies are pulling user conversations for training.

Amazon said in its announcement that it trains “health AI models on abstract patterns without directly specifying the information.” For example, if multiple patients ask about drug interactions, Amazon says it may use those patterns, while keeping patient names private, to improve how health AI responds to similar questions.

The company also said that all interactions with Health AI occur within a HIPAA-compliant environment, and that conversations are protected by “encryption and strict access controls.” However, Amazon has not shared exactly how conversations are encrypted and who can access them. TechCrunch has reached out for details.

With the user’s permission, Health AI can access their health information through the Health Information Exchange, the secure, nationwide system for sharing patient medical data.

Amazon says the health AI can then interpret lab results, diagnoses, and medical records to provide accurate, personalized answers about symptoms and medications.

If you need professional care, Health AI can connect you with a One Medical provider. US Prime members using Health AI receive up to five free direct message consultations with a One Medical provider for more than 30 common conditions, including cold, flu, allergies, acid reflux, pink eye, urinary tract infections, erectile dysfunction, anti-aging skin care, hair loss and more. Non-Prime members can connect with One Medical providers through Amazon’s pay-per-visit option.

Users can sign up for Health AI on the Amazon Health page. As Amazon expands access, users will receive an email once they are able to access Assistant.

Once users have access, they need to create or sign in to their Amazon Health profile. They can then start a conversation by typing their health question into Health AI on Amazon.com or in the Amazon app.

Users can ask questions like “Can you explain your recent cholesterol results and what they mean for me?” Or “I feel congested and have a sore throat. What should I do?”

Amazon’s expansion into health AI comes as popular AI services quickly move into the healthcare space. In January, OpenAI launched ChatGPT Health, a version of its chatbot designed to answer health questions. A week later, Anthropic announced its own healthcare-focused product, Claude for Healthcare.