We’ve all been there: a headache, a persistent cough, or fatigue that even coffee can’t fix. It’s incredibly tempting to take our concerns to a search engine. With an overstretched National Health Service and lengthy waits for appointments, more people are turning to the internet for health advice. The problem is, we rarely know if we’ve found the right answer, and we often fall into the rabbit hole of self-diagnosis, anxiety, and what’s known as ‘cyberchondria.’ Even when we find information, how do we apply it? Health literacy remains a global challenge, and the UK is no exception. Over 40% of adults struggle with health content intended for the general public, and this jumps to over 60% when the content includes numbers or statistics. Fortunately, innovations in technology are beginning to address these issues. Here are just a few ways they’re helping us move beyond DIY diagnosis and improving access to clear, timely support.
Taking Control of Our Own Health
Interpreting our own health information, or that of our loved ones, can be overwhelming. I recently mentioned how surprised I was when I struggled to understand a medical letter I received about my son. Uploading a photo of the letter to ChatGPT instantly translated the jargon into information I could understand. No one is immune to these gaps in understanding, even when they’re familiar with the healthcare system. Research shows that health literacy-related problems account for up to 5% of the UK’s national health spending.
One innovative tool addressing this is CardMedic, an app designed to improve communication between patients and healthcare providers. CardMedic provides visual aids, translations, and a library of scripts for routine clinical interactions. It explains medical procedures and diagnoses in language everyone can understand, helping patients feel more informed and confident about their care.
More people are also opting for continuous monitoring that helps them stay ahead of any potential health issues, embracing solutions like Neko Health, Zoe, SAVA, and Unravel Health for personalized health insights. Although these tools are currently more accessible to higher-income individuals, costs are likely to decrease over time. Furthermore, as the NHS invests more in preventative solutions, we should see these tools integrated into healthcare systems and become more widely available.
This shift could improve health outcomes by detecting health conditions earlier and allowing for proactive management, reducing the likelihood of more serious issues down the line.
Virtual Health Assistants: The Future is Now
Last year, my colleague Michael Tefula, Head of Product at Ada Health, predicted that 2025 would be a pivotal year for personal AI-driven health assistants to become a central part of our daily lives. These virtual assistants are evolving far beyond basic symptom checkers, offering an integrated approach that tracks wellness across multiple aspects of life. Technology that automatically analyzes your diet through photos, monitors your physical activity, and assesses sleep quality provides personalized, actionable advice for improvement. It’s an area of development that’s particularly exciting as it puts health management at the forefront in a way that is both proactive and accessible.
Ada Health, Olivia Health, and Docus are all building AI companions that help users identify potential conditions by learning from their individual health profiles. These innovations are paving the way for a future where we no longer have to rely on Google searches for health advice, but instead have AI-powered companions guiding us every step of the way.
Addressing Waiting Lists and Medical Misinformation
Waiting lists for treatment are a significant issue in the UK and elsewhere. The longer the wait, the greater the chances that patients will turn to Google in search of answers. These waits also lead to attempts at self-treatment, with one in ten Britons admitting to attempting their own dental work as a result.
Technologies that help alleviate the burden on our healthcare system and its professionals are more crucial than ever. One company, Flok Health, is doing just that: an AI-powered physiotherapy clinic that provides same-day appointments for back pain. This can be transformative for the more than 20 million people in the UK who suffer from musculoskeletal conditions like back pain.
Technology is also becoming an essential ally in GP surgeries, which are often the first stop when something seems wrong. Heidi Health, for example, is an AI-assisted medical transcription tool that transcribes patient appointments. It reduces the risk of errors and saves GPs valuable time in each consultation. It’s estimated that saving just one minute per patient could free up 5.7 million hours of GP time, helping more people get appointments and robust clinical advice quickly.
The spread of misleading information online intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic. Platforms like TikTok are now central to how the public seeks out health information. Research from AXA Health shows that nearly one in three people in the UK now depend on social media for diagnoses.
AI tools, although capable of spreading misinformation, can also be used to combat false claims. By rapidly detecting, flagging, and countering inaccuracies online, they offer a way to protect the public’s access to reliable health advice. MISSCI, a theoretical model created by IBM Research, TU-Darmstadt, and MBZUAI, can automatically detect the misuse of scientific evidence. This innovation will be a powerful tool for fighting misinformation, not just on sites like TikTok, but also in identifying false statements that may appear in reputable news outlets.
Health is complicated, and without the right support, trying to figure it out on our own can cause confusion, fear, and, most importantly, missed opportunities for proper care. These tech startups are empowering patients and supporting clinicians, making it easier to get the information we need, when we need it. With their innovations, we can end the era of DIY diagnosis and enter a new era of proactive, accurate health management.
