AI monitors to tell when you need an ambulance

SMART speakers could be used as ‘virtual medical coaches’ to monitor patients at home, a major report has suggested.

Devices such as Amazon’s Alexa and Apple’s Siri are becoming crucial health tools, the report said, adding that within 20 years similar machines could be used to help manage chronic conditions such as diabetes, depression and high blood pressure. The gadgets will use artificial intelligence (AI) and ‘deep learning’ to ‘pre-empt hospitalisation’ by spotting when something is wrong.

They would connect to wearable sensors, medical data and even detect stress in someone’s voice.