Alexa and the NHS

Alexa, the smart speaker from Amazon has been helping make life easier for a number of people. From reminders to stock up the depleted milk carton in the fridge to reading out messages that have been received, Alexa has been doing a number of tasks like a virtual assistant. Now the National Health Service (NHS) in the United Kingdom has decided to make Alexa even more useful.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said, technology like this is a great example of how people can access reliable, world-leading NHS advice from the comfort of their home, reducing the pressure on our hardworking GPs and pharmacists. The people in Britain will soon have the option to say, “Alexa, what are the symptoms of the flu?” To be answered from a data base that will be populated by the doctors in the NHS.

Of course there are concerns about Alexa being used like this by Helen Stokes-Lampard, the chairwoman of the Royal College of GPs. The doctor says that it is vital that independent research is done to ensure that the advice given is safe. Otherwise it could prevent people seeking proper medial help. Will this science project be successful? Only time and Alexa will tell.