The Observer - 25.08.2019

The Observer

25.08.19 25

Science Tech

E

nthusiasts predicted

the plan would relieve

the pressure on hard-

pressed GPs. Critics saw

it as a sign of creeping

privatisation and a

data-protection disaster in waiting.

Reactions to news last month that

Amazon’s voice-controlled digital

assistant Alexa was to begin using

NHS website information to answer

health queries were many and varied.

US-based healthcare tech analysts

say the deal is just the latest of a

series of moves that together reveal

a long-term strategy on the part

of Amazon. From its entry into

the prescription drugs market and

development of AI tools to analyse

patient records, to Alexa apps that

manage diabetes and data-driven

experiments on how to cut medical

bills, the $900 b n global giant’s

determination to make the digital

disruption of healthcare a central

part of its future business model is

becoming increasingly clear.

Why Amazon is

moving into health

Few doubt new digital technologies

have roles to play in the challenges

healthcare systems are facing.

David
Wallace-Wells
The journalist
and author on
global heating
and what we
need to do

The fi ve
Species due to get
extra protection
from animal
traders

The networker
John Naughton
on DeepMind,
proteins and
what computers
really know

This

Week

Amazon is applying its business model to healthcare.

Reducing US costs is its fi rst goal but as a recent

Alexa deal indicates, it aims to disrupt the NHS.

Should we be worried? Nic Fleming reports

Illustration by
James Melaugh Continued overleaf

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