Health care

Health Week 2024 Conference: ‘Use AI to improve work’, says Google’s Siddharth Bagga

Interview/ Siddharth Bagga, head (retail, CPG and healthcare), Google Cloud

ADD A WEEK Health Summit, Siddharth Bagga, head (marketing, CPG and healthcare), Google Cloud, detailed the important work that Google has been doing in healthcare with artificial intelligence (AI ). After an insightful lecture, Bagga, who has been with Google for nearly five years, joined us for a quick chat. Quotations:

Q/ Healthcare represents 30 percent of the world’s data. How does Google ensure that data is not breached?

A/ From the beginning, Google integrates security into all its products, emphasizing the security of health information. We make sure the data you use on Android phones, Fitbit watches and other devices stays with you. A comprehensive consent system is also in place, so users, not companies, control how data is shared. At Google Cloud, we work closely with customers like Apollo and Manipal, putting data on the basis of their performance…. Security is at the heart of everything we do at Google Cloud. For example, all data in Google Cloud is encrypted by default. Additionally, we provide tools that enable data identification and integration for AI, ensuring strong security for patient health information and preventing data leaks.

Google Cloud has never faced a cybersecurity breach. We have maintained a strong record of protecting user information. This commitment to safety also extends to our clothing.

Q

A/ I do not think so. Clothes have goals that are ultimately set by the user. They are tools that empower you to take control of your health. It’s really about understanding your health data in a more effective way to live a healthier life. By exercising more, tracking nutrients more accurately, and being mindful of your habits, wearables can help reduce the risks associated with conditions like diabetes.

A few years ago, we partnered with Manipal Hospital and Fitbit to support patients recovering from orthopedic and heart surgery. It has helped doctors closely monitor and guide patients’ health after discharge from the hospital, addressing a major challenge in outpatient care.

Q/ Is Google looking at apps that can reduce stress, or bring mindfulness?

A/ Mental health is a big issue in India. About six months ago, Apollo Hospitals partnered with Google to launch a mental health screening tool specifically for India. This app allows users to self-diagnose mental health directly from Google Search. With simple radio button answers to questions like, ‘How do you feel’ or ‘Have you ever been depressed?’, users can better understand their mental health status. Making this app available on a widely used platform like Google Search is an important step because that’s where people are looking for information. Apart from this project, we have also integrated various mental health tools into our products.

Q/ Will Google’s advances in healthcare lead to more jobs in medical science?

A/ Knowledge in AI is an important part of development. It’s not that AI is competing with us; rather, it’s about how we can use AI to improve our work. AI can handle 20-30 percent of repetitive tasks 90 percent more. This is true across industries, especially in healthcare…. The change will focus on improving skills…. Think of it as a supportive approach that works alongside the therapist.

Creating such a system requires engineers, researchers and experts in different fields, creating a broad pipeline of capacity development.

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