Google to weave AI technology into its healthcare offerings

Google’s health-related AI announcements come more than a year after the company shifted strategy for its health efforts, moving to embed health-care research and other functionality in its core products like search and YouTube, rather than starting new commercial services. — Photo by Ed JONES/AFP

Alphabet Inc.’s Google unveiled plans to integrate artificial intelligence into health-related initiatives, including an update on the use of language-generating technology in medical exams and AI-assisted research, ways to help consumers find information faster via internet searches, and tools to help developers build health apps around the world.

"Health is a company-wide effort,” Karen DeSalvo, Google’s chief health officer, said in a blog post timed to an event at its Pier 57 Manhattan office on Tuesday. "The global reach of our products, services and platforms – coupled with our advanced AI technologies - provide a way to help billions of people live healthier lives.”