Included Health, a healthcare startup, has introduced an innovative AI-powered personal health assistant named Dot, positioning itself to compete with major technology companies such as Verily and OpenAI. This new tool aims to enhance patient engagement by providing tailored answers to health-related inquiries, utilizing a comprehensive analysis of medical claims and benefits data.
The launch of Dot comes as Included Health seeks to carve out a niche in the rapidly evolving healthcare AI landscape. According to CEO Owen Tripp, the assistant has undergone extensive testing over the past 18 months to ensure its accuracy and reliability. “This can’t be ChatGPT level of probability. It has to be precise,” Tripp emphasized, highlighting the necessity for exact information in healthcare.
Included Health has established a track record of personalizing patient interactions with healthcare services. The company currently serves around 300 employers and health plans, helping them navigate their health benefits. Dot is designed not only to provide general health guidance but also to prepare patients for medical consultations by summarizing their past visits for clinicians.
Strategies and Challenges in Healthcare AI
The competitive landscape for healthcare AI is intense. Verily, a subsidiary of Alphabet, launched its own AI app in October, allowing patients to connect their medical records and engage with a chatbot for health inquiries. Meanwhile, OpenAI is exploring the development of its health-focused AI solutions. Tripp believes that larger tech companies may struggle with the complexities of handling sensitive medical data effectively. “I predict, like many before them, they will pull back. It’s just hard, and the juice is often not worth the squeeze for these high-profile companies,” he stated.
Included Health’s approach integrates human expertise with AI technology. The company retains a team of clinicians and care advocates available for members who prefer direct interaction. Notably, if Dot detects a mention of “suicide” during a conversation, the system is programmed to ensure that a clinician reaches out within minutes, underscoring the importance of human oversight in sensitive situations.
Future Prospects and IPO Plans
Included Health was initially poised to go public in 2022. The company had engaged banks for an initial public offering (IPO) but withdrew from the process amid market instability. Tripp indicated that while Included Health is currently profitable and not reliant on public fundraising, the potential for an IPO remains on the table. He acknowledged that the public markets have been unkind to healthcare startups recently, with only two digital health companies, Hinge Health and Omada Health, successfully going public in 2023.
Despite these challenges, Tripp sees opportunities for growth and acquisitions in the current healthcare landscape. “I do think this is a time where there are going to be some interesting capabilities and technologies available in the market that allow us to provide even more service to our members,” he explained. As the healthcare AI sector continues to advance, Included Health appears well-positioned to leverage its unique model combining AI with human expertise, potentially redefining the patient experience in healthcare.
