Arianna Huffington and Sam Altman invest in personalized AI health coach for Thrive Global.

From The Slate Group: 2024-07-11 13:46:00

Even big banks and venture capital funds are wary of the artificial intelligence bubble, but Arianna Huffington is not. She co-authored a Time magazine op-ed with OpenAI’s Sam Altman, announcing a joint investment in a personalized AI health coach for her Thrive Global startup. The app will analyze personal health data to promote better habits and health equity, combining peer-reviewed science with behavior change methodology.

Technological innovation in healthcare is essential, and AI can assist in certain areas. AI applications have shown progress in data management, diagnoses, and prosthetics. Despite benefits, over-reliance on AI, such as in app-based health coaching, may not be the most effective solution and could pose ethical concerns surrounding algorithm faults and biases.

Arianna Huffington’s track record with health initiatives, such as promoting pseudoscience, raises skepticism about her AI-driven wellness initiatives. Health professionals have questioned the efficacy of “nudge theory” and hyper-personalization in health tracking due to potential negative impacts. Promising a superhuman health coach with AI may exacerbate inequities and rely on faulty technology.

Sam Altman’s work with OpenAI has potential, such as partnering with Los Alamos Labs to prevent misuse of AI. AI has benefits in healthcare, from easier claim processing to medical advancements. However, implementing AI in areas like health coaching may raise concerns about data privacy, bias, and accessibility, as technological access remains unequal across demographics.

Altman and Huffington’s vision of AI-driven healthcare raises questions about ethics, equity, and efficacy. While AI can offer benefits in certain medical applications, concerns about data privacy, bias, and accessibility persist. Before integrating AI into healthcare systems, thorough considerations about the technology’s impact on equity and marginalized communities are crucial.



Read more at The Slate Group: Why Arianna Huffington and Sam Altman are making an A.I. health app startup.