Microsoft Health Copilot: the AI that scans your medical records

Microsoft Copilot Health: The AI That Scans Your Medical Records, But at What Cost?

Using Microsoft Copilot Health involves sharing your personal medical records with an artificial intelligence. This service promises to provide more accurate answers to your medical questions based on your health history. But what are the potential risks associated with this technology?

How Does Copilot Health Work?

To use Copilot Health, you need to provide certain personal information and add the medical records you wish to share. The AI uses this data to tailor its responses according to your specific medical conditions, health history, ongoing treatments, and much more. The more information you share, the better the AI can refine its answers.

In addition to your medical history, Copilot Health can be connected to various wearable devices and health applications. For example, if you use the Apple Health app to track your medical data, you can synchronize it with Copilot. Based on your health profile, the AI will provide tailored responses and ask additional questions to guide you on specific medical topics.

Reliable Sources of Information

Microsoft assures that the advice provided by Copilot Health is based on data from thousands of reputable health organizations worldwide. This information is validated by principles published by the National Academy of Medicine and is enhanced through a partnership with Harvard Health.

Privacy Concerns

Sharing sensitive medical data with a company and an AI naturally raises privacy concerns. Even though you have the option to limit the information you share, how is this data protected? And how effective is Copilot Health if you choose not to disclose certain crucial details about your health?

Microsoft claims that interactions with Copilot Health are not shared with other Copilot services and are not used to train the AI. The data is encrypted, whether stored or in transit. You also have the option to manage, delete, or disconnect your health data sources at any time.

Reliability of Medical Advice

Relying on an AI for medical advice can be concerning, especially given the errors or "hallucinations" that AI can produce. Personally, I would not trust medical recommendations from a chatbot without verifying them with my doctor or pharmacist.

To mitigate the risks of misinformation, Microsoft has implemented rigorous safeguards, overseen by teams specializing in responsible AI, clinical safety, engineering, and health products. Despite this, I would remain cautious about any suggestions coming from an AI.

User Experience

To access Copilot Health, you must be at least 18 years old, reside in the United States, and be subscribed to a Microsoft 365 Personal, Family, or Premium plan. Registration is done through the Copilot Health website, where you log in with your Microsoft account. The Copilot mobile app is also available on iOS and Android.

During registration, you need to provide basic information such as your age and sex at birth. You can then choose to import health data from previous conversations with Copilot or start from scratch. The next step is to connect your health records or the Apple Health app.

Questions Asked to Copilot Health

Here are some questions I asked Copilot Health and the responses I received:

1. Information on a GLP-1 Medication
   I informed Copilot about my use of a GLP-1 medication at a certain dose for weight and blood sugar management. The AI reviewed my medical records and suggested several reasons why my appetite remained high.

2. Impact of Medications on Cholesterol and Triglycerides
   I asked Copilot to analyze my medications to check their influence on my cholesterol and triglycerides. The AI could not access my complete list of medications, which forced me to provide it manually.

3. Analysis of My Overall Health
   I inquired about what my wearable devices indicated about my health. The AI generated graphs and data regarding my physical activity and vital signs.

4. Discussion of a Symptom
   I mentioned a frequent need to clear my throat. The AI proposed several possible explanations and recommended consulting an ENT specialist.

5. Finding a Doctor
   I asked Copilot to find an ENT doctor with specific expertise in Manhattan. The AI provided several names that matched my criteria.

Conclusion

Overall, how did Copilot Health perform? The results were mixed, primarily due to technical issues. The AI failed to connect to several of my health records and could not retrieve my complete list of medications, complicating the use of the service.

However, Copilot provided useful information and advice, making it an interesting tool. Two major questions remain: the accuracy of the information provided and the confidentiality of the data. Despite the technical issues, Copilot seems capable of delivering accurate responses, but more complex questions could pose a greater challenge. As for privacy, despite Microsoft's assurances, I remain concerned about the security of shared data.