Could Alexa Diagnose Your Medical Issues in the Future?
Like WebMD, this seems like another dark hole for us to spiral down.
Do you have an Amazon Alexa device? These smart speakers are quickly taking over homes across the globe. I'll admit that their listening abilities still kind of give me the heebie-jeebies, but for many Alexa become a member of the family answering just about any question our minds could come up with.
It was only a matter of time before she got her MD.
In the UK, officials are looking to use Alexa to help give medical advice. As someone who has found herself pages deep in a WebMD search about a little cough only to feel like I will die within a matter of minutes, this is a little unnerving. However, it's not entirely meant for everyone.
Officials hope that Alexa will be able to offer information quickly to people who have difficulty getting on the Internet.
Individuals who are elderly or have impairments like a lack of vision could benefit from something like this. Being able to say "Hey Alexa" and ask about something simple like that little cough I mentioned above is extremely beneficial. The UK hopes to loop Alexa in on the country's National Health Service to give people accurate and verified information only.