Microsoft’s Copilot Health Uses AI to Turn Scattered Medical Records into Something You Can Actually Understand

Microsoft has just launched Copilot Health, a completely new feature of its AI assistant that functions as a health hub, deciphering your medical records and fitness tracker data to identify key health trends. Users get started by simply creating a dedicated tab in Copilot and give authorization to import data from the appropriate sources.

The system then collects data from electronic health records at over 50,000 hospitals and clinics across the United States via a business named HealthEx. Then there are lab reports from companies such as Function. More than 50 fitness devices are now connected, including Apple Health trackers, Oura rings, Fitbits, and other wearables. When users give the go-ahead, the system collects data on activity levels, sleep patterns, heart rates, and step counts.

Once everything is connected, the AI does a nice job of sorting through the data and creating easy-to-read summaries. It searches for patterns that could have gone overlooked otherwise. A protracted period of restless nights could be attributed to changes in daily mobility or other factors identified in the records. Test findings that were previously collected individually are now gathered in one place, allowing the tool to identify potential correlations. Their responses will also include references to credible sources, such as summaries prepared by Harvard Health specialists.

Microsoft built this new feature to make it easier for users to prepare for doctor appointments. Many people arrive at tests unsure of what to ask or unable to recall critical details from previous appointments. Copilot Health sort of allows people to organize their thoughts ahead of time. Users are given suggestions for inquiries based on their own data. It also includes a feature that allows users to search for doctors based on their specialty, location, languages spoken, and insurance coverage.

All interactions are kept separate from ordinary Copilot chats, which is important for privacy reasons. Data is encrypted regardless of whether it is stored or transferred. Users have complete control: disconnect any source, remove stored information, or just stop sharing entirely. Microsoft assures that the data will never be utilized to train their larger AI algorithms. The company has even received third-party certification for how it handles this type of situation, such as the ISO/IEC 42001 standard, which examines how to employ AI responsibly. A team of over 230 doctors from around the world assessed the approach and provided recommendations on how to make it safer.

This launch comes at a busy time for consumer AI in healthcare. OpenAI, Anthropic, and Amazon already have technologies in place to handle personal records in a secure setting. Microsoft is using this as an opportunity to demonstrate their experience with health-related data, since they receive over 50 million health-related questions every day. Executives characterize the tool as a minor step toward gaining a better knowledge of medical conditions, but emphasize that it is a long way from providing actual diagnoses or treatment.

For the time being, the tool is only available in English and is limited to persons over the age of 18 in the United States. A waitlist allows users to participate in an early group that helps shape the experience. Microsoft intends to add languages, voice functions, and other geographies later on.