How Amazon and Columbia University are collaborating to advance AI in healthcare

Armstrong: We have faculty who have been studying, working, and living everything about AI for decades. What is remarkable now is that we’ve democratized it. So, as opposed to a small group of individuals testing and advancing it, we’re at this point where AI in healthcare is becoming something that we’re thinking about across every aspect of what we do.

My sense is that we are going to see many parts of healthcare — particularly how we manage and use data — move fairly quickly to better models, whether that’s how we collect information from patients, how we provide information to patients, or how we use that information for quality and safety efforts in hospitals and physician practices.

I think it’s going to take longer for it to really become part of how we do medical education, which is where I spend a lot of time. And it’s going to take some really Innovative people to come up with ways that AI truly transforms our ability to address the fundamental challenges of healthcare access, quality, and cost. That’s going to take some big, bold moves.

Mishra: The potential is huge; AI is a very powerful tool, and in many ways, Amazon is already improving customers’ lives with practical, useful generative AI innovations. When it comes to AI in healthcare, I’m optimistic about it, and I have been impressed with the care and thought with which people in the industry are approaching solutions.

Amazon is a place where you can make a significant impact on the lives of customers, and to be able to help make it easier for people to engage with their health is tremendously meaningful work. Most primary care clinicians will see their patients a couple of times a year. We have people who visit the Amazon Store much more frequently. That relationship gives us an opportunity to surface things that are important for their health and to close care gaps. For example, what if we could remind people about checkups or screenings that they may be due for, or just make it easier to schedule appointments or refill their prescriptions? That will make a huge difference. That’s what gets me out of bed every day.