Discovery has launched a new artificial intelligence (AI), Vitality AI, in a partnership with Google, which traces its origins to South Africa.
UK-based Vitality and Google have announced a global partnership to launch Vitality AI, which will integrate Google Cloud’s advanced AI and data analytics.
The system will also use Vitality’s vast health datasets and behavioural change expertise to understand how millions understand and manage their health.
For South Africans, the intonation is already here, with its foundation lying in Discovery Health’s Personal Health Pathways (PHP) integrated with Vitality.
“This homegrown solution has already transformed the health and lifestyle journeys of hundreds of thousands of South Africans,” said Discovery.
“Built on Google Cloud Platform, PHP has delivered hyper-personalised health recommendations to over 433,000 members, driving more than 2.7 million exercise actions, 460,000 health actions, and over R35 million in rewards.”
PHP is primarily used by those who need it most, with 65% of activations from members with chronic conditions, and 41% from previously health-unengaged individuals.
Early data has shown a 5.7x increase in cancer screenings, a 2.3x rise in GP visits, and a 17.3x uplift in digital health actions.
“This is clear evidence of PHP’s power to close care gaps and enable early detection and prevention,” it said.
It added that the launch of Vitality AI with Google represents the next evolution and will improve the intelligence, speed, and scalability of PHP’s personalisation engine.
“It’s a South African innovation now being exported to the world, with the potential to extend healthy life expectancy by up to eight years and reshape the global health and insurance landscape.”
