Google has announced a new health care web tool that uses artificial intelligence to help people identify skin, hair, or nail conditions. The company announced it on Google I/O 2021 and will be available for anyone later this year.
“Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to help clinicians care for patients and treat disease — from improving the screening process for breast cancer to helping detect tuberculosis more efficiently. When we combine these advances in AI with other technologies, like smartphone cameras, we can unlock new ways for people to stay better informed about their health, too” – Google
How to use AI-powered dermatology assist tool
Google’s AI-powered dermatology assist tool is a web-based application. Once it is available for all later this year, launch the tool, simply use your phone’s camera to take three images of your skin, hair, or nail concern from different angles. You’ll then be asked questions about your skin conditions. The AI model analyzes this information and draws from its knowledge of 288 conditions to give you a list of possible matching conditions.
Additionally, this tool will also show dermatologist-reviewed information and answers to commonly asked questions, along with similar matching images from the web. Google says this tool is not intended to provide a diagnosis nor be a substitute for medical advice as many conditions require clinician review which is obvious.
Google says the tool is passed clinical validation and has been CE marked as a Class I medical device in the EU. There is no exact availability timeline as of now. Google hopes to launch as a pilot later this year. You can sign up here to be notified when this tool is available in your region.
