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Patients and consumers are becoming familiar with the use of artificial intelligence and natural language processing nowadays. From cognitive computing and machine learning to deep learning and neutral networks. The use of artificial intelligence is becoming a common tool in kitchens and smartphones. And its impact to healthcare is a mixture of hope and doubt.

A panel of IT experts at HIMSS17 discussed about the impact of AI in healthcare services. Managing editor of The Advisory Board Company Kenneth Kleinberg converse with two medical AI startups: Sherpaa founder and CMO Jay Parkinson, MD and Catalia Health CEO Cory Kidd.

According to Healthcare IT News, Catalia created a small robot called Mabu Personal Healthcare Companion which aimed at assisting with "long-term patient engagement." It could tailored conversations with patients and could evolve over time. The reason for this is that it has a platform developed using the principles of behavioral psychology and gains daily data about healthcare challenges, treatment plans and outcomes.

Some people questioned whether Mabu Personal Healthcare Companion will offer more benefits to the patients in terms of patient engagement level. But Kidd said that the kinds of algorithm that they're developing are building up psychological models of patients with every encounter.

Kidd said that they will start with two types of psychologies. The first is the psychology of relationships which will develop the relationship of the Mabu Personal Healthcare Companion and the patient. The second is the psychology of behavior change which will analyze the right the right technique to use for the patient.

Artificial intelligence in healthcare is quickly evolving in the consumer space. But if AI is having a promising yet controversial impact on the clinical side, how about in the patients of view?

Kidd said that with their various versions of AI and robots, they found out that patients could develop an attachment to them. But the typical conversations could only last for about two to three minutes. And it's important to know what this technology can and should do.

Artificial intelligence has been helping to simplify workflow processes in healthcare, as per Healthcare DIVE. And with the development of Mabu Personal Healthcare Companion, patient engagement level could be enhanced.