When Healthcare Meets Conversational AI: A Narrative Review of Amazon Alexa Devices in Healthcare

Abstract

The emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) within the last decade has cemented its role in mainstream society. From smartphones to smartwatches, and now smart speakers, there are few devices that are incompatible with the ever-evolving abilities of AI. Since the initial launch of Amazon’s Alexa devices in 2014, these smart speakers have proven their utility in a variety of ways, such as providing weather forecasts, playing music, or setting alarms. Within five years of the development and improvement of Alexa devices, they have proved to be valuable assets in the healthcare industry. The recent COVID-19 pandemic acted as a catalyst for the increased use of smart speakers in hospitals, and the continued development of such technologies reinforces the need to track their potential applications. This article sheds light on the various use cases of Amazon’s Alexa devices in the emerging area of research observing the intersection of conversational AI and healthcare.

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