Google, the world’s biggest search engine, saw the potential of the healthcare space over a decade ago. Google Health first came into the picture in 2006 but was stalled in 2012. Subsequently, in 2019 Google Health was redeveloped as the time was ripe to foray into the healthcare space.
Google observes more than 70000 health-related search queries every minute. It knows the potential the healthcare sector has for the future. Hence, it is actively working in the healthcare space and plans to disrupt the healthcare sector.
Will Google be able to disrupt the healthcare space is a difficult question to answer. But, we can look at its work in the sector to get a better idea.
Note: In 2015, Google restructured into Alphabet. Alphabet is the parent company of Google and the backbone of all the acquisitions and other activities in the healthcare sector. Google and Alphabet are used interchangeably in the article henceforth.
Google into healthcare
Google has been in the healthcare field for a long time now. Yet, its moves are fittingly disparate to give an idea as to where it is heading. It is working on a lot of things like fitness apps, clinical study apps, AI-powered disease detections, sleep tracking features, machine learning and AI tools, EHRs, cloud-based services, and a lot more.
Google’s stronghold in data analytics, AI, and deep learning expertise helps it stand out among other tech giants foraying the healthcare sector.
Alphabet’s subsidiaries in healthcare
The subsidiaries working with complete dedication in the healthcare sector are:
Verily
Run by Andrew Conrad, Verily is dedicated to the usage of analytics, AI, tools, inventions, research, etc., to improve healthcare. It partners with healthcare organizations to research areas to apply AI through its Study Watch.
Calico
Under the leadership of Arthur Levinson, Calico is a subsidiary of Alphabet, completely focused on age-related diseases. It aims to learn and combat human aging to help people live a better and longer life.
DeepMind
Solely dedicated to artificial intelligence, DeepMind is Alphabet’s subsidiary finding ways to apply AI in healthcare. Alphabet acquired DeepMind for $500 Million. It is currently led by Demis Haasabis.
GV- Google ventures
GV is the investment arm of Alphabet. It ventures investments in various sectors. In the past two years, GV has invested more in healthcare companies.
Let us look at a few of Google’s forays in the healthcare space.
Investments in healthcare
Alphabet has acquired the highest number of digital health startups over the last year. Currently, it holds 57 such startups in its portfolio. Though most of its acquisitions were silent, Fitbit generated headlines.
Improving EHRs, developing disease diagnostics, bundling healthcare services, and advancing scientific research by leveraging AI have been the focus of Alphabet’s investment.
Electronic Health Records
Google is on the move to integrate health data and make it available under one roof. According to CB Insights, Google is making three key efforts to power a new data infrastructure layer. They are:
- Increase interoperability by building healthcare APIs using FIHR
- Push Google Cloud
- Build data sets for third parties
Diagnostics and disease detection
Google is working heavily on researching and applying AI to detect various diseases at early stages. It will help seek out help at the right time and improve the patient’s quality of life.
Currently, it is researching on detection and cure of diseases like-
- Eye diseases
- Heart disease
- Diabetes
- Cancer
- Parkinson’s disease
- Multiple Sclerosis
Cloud-based services
Though EHRs and cloud-based services overlap a little, they are different. Google aims to become a platform for developers to build healthcare applications using its Cloud Healthcare APIs. It plans to increase its market share in the cloud ecosystem where AWS and Azure dominate. However, a lot of companies think twice before using the Google cloud due to privacy concerns.
Research
Alphabet launched Google Research studies to explore the field of clinical studies. It has also developed a mobile app to help researchers conduct better research at ease.
Google’s stronghold in AI and data analytics gives it an upper hand in the research field.
All of Alphabet’s subsidiaries- Verily, Calico, DeepMind- are actively engaged in research. It relies heavily on its AI expertise and is working on applying AI in the healthcare space as much as possible.
Will Google be able to disrupt healthcare?
With Google working on so many different facets of healthcare all at once, this question is difficult to answer. The chances of the tech giant to succeed are as likely as its chances of failure. However, one thing that can be hundred percent assured is that Google has the potential to effectively find solutions to the problems existing in the health sector.
Related links
Alphabet- https://abc.xyz/
https://cloud.google.com/solutions/healthcare-life-sciences
https://research.google/teams/health/
