In 2024, the healthcare and technology sectors will intersect in new ways, with transformations driven primarily by the increased use of artificial intelligence (AI).
From headphones that double as hearing aids to the use of AI voice assistance in the House of Commons, the past year has seen new possibilities for the digital health space, building on technological advances from the COVID-19 pandemic. opened the door to
Highlights of digital health in 2024 include:
Utilization of artificial intelligence
The use of AI, especially generative AI, is primarily cited by the medical community as having the biggest impact on the industry in 2024.
“2024 has really opened our eyes, and I'm talking about the incredible potential of generational AI tools, both from the clinician side and the consumer side,” said Consumer Technology Association ( said René Quashie, vice president of digital health at CTA. The Hill.
Quashie cited medical professionals' increased use of AI-generated scribes during patient examinations as one of the most important advances in the past year.
Typically using a phone's microphone, an ambient AI scribe uses machine learning and natural language processing to summarize conversations into easy-to-read notes after a patient visit.
Although these scribes typically don't record audio, the report says they save most doctors an average of an hour a day at their computers. American Medical Association. This tool reduces the burden of note-taking during consultations and allows clinicians to engage more deeply with patients.
Although the integration of technology into healthcare can sometimes cause skepticism, the use of AI is increasingly accepted in the medical community.
AI has been ranked as the most exciting emerging technology for the healthcare industry for the fourth year in a row. the study It is comprised of executives from the Center for Connected Medicine and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
AI outside of traditional medical settings
AI for health is also advancing on Capitol Hill.
Former Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton (D-Va.), who was diagnosed with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), made headlines last year when she used an AI text-to-speech app to speak on the House floor.
The model is able to recreate how Ms. Wexton's voice sounded before her PSP diagnosis, which affects the volume and clarity of her voice.
The Virginia Democrat, who retired earlier this month, said last year She says the use of this model is a “creative resource that can empower people facing health and accessibility issues like I have and prove that our abilities don't define us.” I would like to show you how.
On the other hand, major technology companies like microsoft Utilizing AI Improve user experience For those who have health problems.
In one project last year, Microsoft formed a team In collaboration with the Rijksmuseum in the Netherlands, how the company's AI service Copilot can adapt existing museum descriptions to give people with no vision or limited vision the opportunity to understand and interpret art objects. We have shown how we can give
The description can go beyond general details such as the work's title, date, and inspiration to explain the “literal and emotional” elements of the work. For example, AI can tell consumers how dark or light one color is in a painting and explain what the piece depicts.
in collaboration Microsoft announced this month that Be My Eyes will use data representative of people with disabilities to train AI models to be more inclusive of the hundreds of millions of people who are blind or have low vision. Be My Eyes is a company that connects blind and partially sighted people with sighted volunteers and businesses.
AI developers are under intense scrutiny for how they train machine learning models, and depending on the information used in training, they can be biased against certain groups or individuals.
Wearable device boom
By 2024, there will be an “explosion” of wearable devices such as “smart” watches, glasses and headphones, Quashie said.
“Not only do they provide real-time data, they also provide trends to consumers,” Quashie said. “There is much more actionable data available to consumers than there was with wearables just 10 years ago.”
Apple took a big step in this area last year, as seen with its new AirPods Pro model, which now functions as a “clinical-grade” hearing device.
The latest version of the popular headphones offers a hearing test and functions as a professional-grade hearing aid for iPhone and iPad users with what the company claims is the world's first software-enabled hearing aid feature.
If the user tests for mild to moderate hearing loss, they will be prompted to configure the hearing aid features to suit their needs.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration quickly approved the feature in September, and Apple said users “immediately begin to hear more clearly” after taking the test.
Apple's latest smartwatch models will also have enhanced health components in 2024
new sleep apnea function, Launched this fall for Apple Watch Series 9 or 10, the feature monitors users for breathing problems while they sleep and alerts them if it detects a potential sleep disorder.
smart watch Also warns the user A high heart rate or irregular rhythm that suggests atrial fibrillation.
Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has moved deeper into the digital health space with its new Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses.
throughpartnership Be My Eyes allows users to more easily connect visually impaired or partially sighted users with sighted volunteers using the voice command “Hey meta, call a volunteer at Be My Eyes.” can. Volunteers can see through the lenses of Meta's smart glasses and give real-time instructions to users through the glasses' open-ear speakers.
The service is free, available 24/7 with glasses, and is the first of what is expected to be a larger partnership between Meta and Be My Eyes.
digital therapy
digital therapy, Defined as a software-based device commonly used in the mental health field, it has experienced significant growth over the last year, offering a promising future for expansion into other areas of care.
This type of technology includes self-care apps to treat mental health issues such as: anxiety, depression and Substance and Opioid Use Disorders.
“These started to explode during the pandemic, and the FDA cleared many of these, but we've seen market adoption slow,” Quashie said. “These devices are becoming more and more sophisticated.”
Quashie said this is part of a larger movement to bring technology into the home and make treatment more accessible from the comfort of one's own space.
Under new Medicare rules Scheduled to begin in January, clinicians will be able to bill Medicare for FDA-approved apps.
According to IQVIA's Digital Health Trends 2024, the availability of over-the-counter prescription digital therapeutics has increased fivefold since 2021. Report.
what happens next
While 2024 saw progress on several digital health projects, there are still areas to work on in the new year.
Experts emphasized the need to ensure that all citizens have access to digital tools, from wearable devices to AI-powered systems and digital therapeutics.
“If you live in an urban environment, you're more likely to be exposed to technology in a much more meaningful way than someone in a rural setting,” Quashie says. “They have higher incomes, higher educational backgrounds, and are more likely to have exposure to technology than others.”
Some companies tried to expand digital therapeutics beyond mental health treatments last year, but 2025 will be a test of how many of them get the green light, experts said.
For example, Pfizer has new digital applications For migraine management.
