The healthcare industry is experiencing a transformative revolution in customer experience, with AI technology now embedded in 85% of healthcare organizations. With AI's influence, healthcare costs have been slashed by USD 13 billion, making services more affordable. On a global scale, AI-driven chatbots are revolutionizing the industry, saving USD 3.6 billion and elevating patient engagement and satisfaction through timely interactions.

From diagnosing critical conditions such as skin cancer to encouraging healthier lifestyles through fitness apps, pioneers like Noom Fitness, Ping An Good Doctor, and Wysa AI Bot are leading the charge by leveraging AI technology to redefine patient interactions. Let us delve deeper into how these trailblazers are innovating and reshaping the landscape of healthcare through their groundbreaking contributions.

Noom’s 3D body scan

Noom is taking customer experience to new heights with its innovative AI-driven 'body scan' feature. When I used Noom, it transformed how I viewed my wellness journey, offering an incredibly personalised experience. In just 10 seconds using my smartphone camera, I received a detailed health report that not only assessed critical areas like my chest, arms, and waist but also built a 3D model showing my current body and the inspiring "Future Me" model. This visual forecast of my potential future self was both engaging and motivating.

It predicted my body composition with impressive precision, offering tailored recommendations to help me reduce body fat and maintain muscle. These insights feel like having a personal health coach at my side. The feature is also available in the free version of the app.

How to Access the Body Scan Feature

1. Tap the "Start Your Body Scan" task card to begin.

2. Follow the guided instructions, making a full 360° rotation with your arms slightly extended.

3. Once the scan is complete, a "Capture Complete" notification will appear.

4. The screen will then update to "Processing Body Scan." After processing, "Health Report Generated" will be displayed, prompting you to view your health report.

5. Ensure there are no obstructions, make sure you have proper lighting, and maintain a stable internet connection. Adjust clothing or your environment if the results appear inaccurate.

This report offers essential metrics such as body fat percentage, lean mass, and basal metabolic rate, delivering a comprehensive view of your health beyond traditional measurements. One standout feature is the introduction of Noom Body Age, a proprietary metric that provides insights into your metabolic health compared to a large US population dataset.

In addition to the AI-driven personalised health report, Noom enriches the user experience with tools like AI-powered food logging and the AI personal health assistant, Welli, both designed to encourage sustainable lifestyle changes. Central to Noom's strategy is the AI-enhanced food logging system, which simplifies meal tracking for users. This feature provides multiple options for seamless food entry:

1. Photo Food Logging: Users can easily take a photo of their meal, and Noom’s AI will automatically identify and quantify the ingredients. This feature streamlines the manual logging process, providing the flexibility to edit, add, or swap ingredients for a personalised experience.

2. Voice and Text Food Logging: Users have the option to describe their meals using voice commands or text. Noom’s AI recognises and logs the ingredients in a manner similar to photo logging, while still allowing for modifications to ensure accuracy. These features simplify food tracking, enabling users to focus on other aspects of their health journey and making the process more engaging.

Enhancing this streamlined approach is Welli, Noom’s AI personal health assistant, which complements the human coaching experience. Welli provides instant answers and 24/7 support on a wide range of wellness topics, empowering users with guidance on advanced subjects such as healthy eating while traveling and managing side effects of GLP-1 medications. By addressing routine inquiries, Welli enables Noom’s human coaches to concentrate on building relationships and providing personalised support, which is essential for sustainable weight management.

Together, these advanced AI-driven features complement Noom's Personalised Health Report, solidifying Noom's commitment to empowering users to take an active role in their health journeys.

AskBob, China’s AI doctor

AskBob is an AI assistant created specifically for doctors, designed to assess and diagnose a wide range of medical conditions. Utilising natural language processing, AskBob can read and learn from textbooks and diagrams while staying updated with the latest research to offer the most current treatment recommendations. It absorbs data from approximately 38 million medical reports and journals. Currently in use in hospitals and clinics throughout China, AskBob has proven invaluable, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, where it assisted doctors in interpreting CT lung scans. Furthermore, it provides crucial support to physicians in remote areas, facilitating access to much-needed care in rural communities with limited medical resources.

AskBob was tested against six experienced human doctors from around the world in a challenge where all participants were presented with identical patient scenarios. Remarkably, AskBob outshone its human counterparts by providing faster and more accurate diagnoses.

Integrated within the acclaimed Good Doctor mobile app by Ping An, AskBob places a wealth of patient-centric services right at users' fingertips:

• Real-time Symptom Assessment: Users can input symptoms on the app for instant insights. AskBob harnesses advanced algorithms and machine learning to instantly provide insights into potential health issues, empowering users to understand health concerns swiftly and conveniently, without needing a physical consultation.

• Access to Personalised Health Information: Using data from your interactions and health records (with your consent), AskBob crafts tailored health information just for you. Delivered within the Good Doctor app, these personalised recommendations and content ensure the health insights are relevant and specific to your needs, all without requiring wearable devices. 

• Virtual Health Consultations: With the Good Doctor app, connect instantly with healthcare professionals through your smartphone or computer, making healthcare feel seamless and efficient. AskBob supports these sessions by offering initial symptom checks and assessments, while human specialists are ready to join in to provide expert advice or follow-up consultations. 

Wysa, the mental health companion

Covering over 11 million lives across 95 countries, Wysa is a pioneering conversational AI platform for mental health. It has emerged as a global leader in digital therapeutics, helping millions across the globe manage anxiety and depression.

The AI-driven chatbot recommends specific tools based on user interaction, utilising proven Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) strategies in a non-judgmental space. Recent peer-reviewed studies published in Frontiers highlight Wysa's capacity to form a 'therapeutic alliance' with users, comparable to traditional therapy, within just five days.

User just need to download Wysa app and input the following details:

1. Enter a nickname of your choice to personalise your interaction with Wysa.  

2. Choose your age category: This helps the Wysa bot tailor its support and advice to suit your specific age group.

3. Identify your personal challenges: From a diverse selection, pick the ones relevant to you, and Wysa will present tools and resources tailored to those challenges.

Once you are done setting up your Wysa personal space, you can start chatting with the Wysa bot.

Wysa provides anonymous, empathetic support 24/7, having engaged in more than 500 million conversations. Rated highly by ORCHA with a 93% score and endorsed by NHS for its 100% clinical assurance, Wysa offers users immediate access to over 150 self-help tools and crisis support features such as an extensive library of video, audio, and conversational exercises.

Key takeaways for companies in health sector

1. Balancing Human Touch with AI Efficiency: A significant lesson from these case studies is the combination of AI technology with human empathy. For instance, Noom’s Welli enhances human coaching, and AskBob complements human physician expertise. Companies should strive for a balanced integration of AI tools and human support, ensuring that while AI provides quick and accurate assistance, the human element addresses emotional and relational aspects that AI alone cannot fulfil.

2. Leverage Data for Tailored Health Insights: AskBob exemplifies the power of utilising real-time user interactions and health records, with consent, to curate personalised health information. By harnessing the immediacy of real-time data, apps can deliver up-to-date and relevant recommendations that are finely tuned to each user's current health status and needs.  

3. Enhance User Experience with Engaging AI-Driven Features: AI-enhanced Noom's innovative 3D Avatar & Photo Food Logging exemplifies how technology simplifies repetitive tasks by automating processes like ingredient identification. This not only increases user adherence but also adds an element of enjoyment, making wellness tracking more engaging and fun for users.