The Check Up with Google 2026

Optimism in Health Transformation 17:24

"Today is all about how we're bringing the full force of Google to health, and I am filled with optimism."

• Dr. Michael Howell, Google's Chief Health Officer, expresses a sense of optimism about the future of health technologies at Google. His experience as an ICU doctor gives weight to his perspective, highlighting that this optimism is significant given the challenges faced in the medical field.

• He emphasizes that Google has been investing in health-related AI technology for over a decade, marking 2026 as a milestone for their work in preventing blindness through AI detection.

AI's Role in Health Care Today 18:11

"It's no longer just about the future. It's about right now."

• Dr. Howell discusses how advancements in AI are currently transforming healthcare, with a focus on how these technologies are being used to assist various stakeholders in the healthcare ecosystem.

• He outlines three main areas of focus for the day: finding answers to health questions, supporting clinicians, and fueling future cures through research and development.

Tools for Finding Health Answers 19:19

"We're meeting people where they are, and we're also helping people get to where they want to be."

• The discussion highlights how Google's AI tools, such as Search, Gemini, and YouTube, are designed to help individuals navigate complex health information and make informed health decisions.

• The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is empowering individuals by providing access to their health data, while the Fitbit health coach offers personalized guidance for users to enhance their health.

Supporting Clinicians in Health Care 20:03

"The right information at the right time can help save lives."

• Dr. Howell points out the challenges clinicians face in keeping up with the vast amount of health research and data, emphasizing the need for immediate access to crucial information.

• The Pathway Assistant developed by Seattle Children's Hospital, utilizing Vertex AI and Gemini models, showcases a solution that provides timely information to healthcare providers, ultimately enhancing patient care.

Addressing Rural Health Challenges 21:04

"To address this gap, we're exploring work with leaders in Arkansas to help pioneer a model for rural health transformation."

• Emphasizing the barriers faced by rural communities in accessing healthcare, the initiative aims to improve education for clinicians and health delivery through AI initiatives.

• Google's collaboration with institutions like the Alice Walton School of Medicine demonstrates a commitment to enhancing health outcomes and accessibility in underserved areas.

Revolutionizing Clinical Education with AI 22:13

"We need to invest in getting that right."

• Dr. Howell announces Google.org's commitment of $10 million to innovate clinical education in the AI era, recognizing the necessity of adapting training for future healthcare professionals.

• Collaborations with organizations like the Council of Medical Specialty Societies are set to establish high-quality, person-centered care as a standard in medical training.

AI Accelerating Future Cures 22:44

"All of this can be summed up as help for today, hope for tomorrow."

• The advancements made by Google Research and DeepMind in AI are enabling breakthroughs in understanding diseases and enhancing treatment methods.

• Emerging partnerships aim to establish a substantial evidence base that validates the effectiveness of AI in real-world healthcare applications, thus paving the way for innovative solutions in medicine.

Using AI for Healthcare Support 29:22

"Technology has to be a force for good."

• The integration of AI in healthcare aims to provide real-world impacts for billions of people by enabling better responses with trusted sources.

• Google emphasizes the importance of supporting caregivers, as caregiver shortages present significant challenges in healthcare systems, such as in Japan, which is projected to face a shortage of nearly 600,000 healthcare workers by 2040.

• Acknowledging that documentation consumes up to 20% of caregivers' work hours, Google is utilizing the Gemini app to introduce "Gems"—specialized functions tailored to assist with specific tasks and reduce administrative burdens.

Empowering Caregivers to Enhance Patient Care 29:47

"Gems are saved, specialized instructions that customize Gemini for specific tasks."

• Gems allow caregivers to easily upload voice memos, texts, or handwritten notes, which Gemini then converts into standardized professional records. This feature ensures accessibility, even for rotating caregivers who may not speak Japanese as their native language.

• All patient data is maintained with high security standards to protect the information within the healthcare provider's organization.

• By streamlining these administrative tasks, Google aims to give caregivers more time to focus on delivering personal and effective human care.

Enhancing Patient Empowerment with Gemini 32:52

"Gemini has become an always-on, accessible resource."

• Gemini is designed to be an accessible tool for patients, aiding them with daily wellness and appointment preparation.

• For instance, a user can input symptoms related to health issues and receive guidance on what steps to take next, including preparing specific questions for medical appointments.

• The ability to translate medical reports and advice into a user's native language fosters a deeper understanding, enhancing their confidence when interacting with healthcare professionals.

AI Research and Development in Health Care 36:25

"AI is most effective as a tool to enhance, not replace physicians."

• Google continues to push the envelope on AI in clinical settings by collaborating with medical institutions for real-world feasibility studies that emphasize the capability of AI to support healthcare providers in diagnostic quality without substituting human intervention.

• Recent studies indicated patient trust in AI tools improved significantly after their use in clinical practices, highlighting the technology's potential to revolutionize patient-provider relationships.

• Google is partnering with organizations to evaluate conversational AI, aiming to improve virtual care workflows and accessibility for diverse populations.

Personalized Health Coaching through Fitbit 38:13

"The personal health coach is available 24/7, backed by science, and designed to adapt to you."

• Fitbit is introducing significant advancements to its personal health coach, including enhanced sleep tracking capabilities which improve accuracy and provide personalized guidance for better sleep and recovery.

• Ongoing health research is paving the way for new features, such as linking continuous glucose monitors to the Fitbit app, allowing users to understand how dietary and exercise choices affect their glucose levels.

• Beginning next month, users will be able to synchronize their medical records with Fitbit, guiding them in a more personalized health journey based on their complete health history.

Viewing and Sharing Health Data 42:12

"You can see how your data has changed over time."

• Users can track changes in their health data over time, allowing for better personal health insights. This feature enables individuals to see trends in their vitals and medications, crucial for understanding their health journey.

"You can share your records with the health coach to talk and learn more."

• Engaging with a health coach allows users to share their medical records, facilitating discussions on improving specific health metrics, such as cholesterol levels. This personalized support can enhance the user's wellness experience.

"The coach can summarize your data and provide personalized wellness guidance."

• A health coach can analyze the user’s data to offer tailored advice and tips, ensuring the guidance is relevant to the individual's unique health situation.

"Data privacy is key when it comes to medical records or any personal health data."

• Ensuring data privacy is crucial, especially for sensitive medical information. Records stored in Fitbit are secured, and users maintain control over how their data is utilized, shared, or deleted.

Secure Data Sharing Features 42:40

"We want to make it easy to securely share your health data with other apps, doctors, and health providers."

• Google aims to streamline the process of sharing health data with different applications and healthcare providers, ensuring that patients can easily communicate their health information when needed.

"You can choose to share your medical records from Fitbit to Health Connect."

• Users have the option to share their medical records across platforms, enhancing collaboration between various health apps and providing a more cohesive healthcare experience.

"You can securely share a health summary with doctors or family members."

• The introduction of smart health link sharing allows patients to generate QR codes or links to share summaries of their health data easily, ensuring that only the selected information is shared with others.

Empowering Patients with Technology 43:42

"This moment requires everyone."

• The call to action emphasizes that the transformation of healthcare necessitates collective efforts among patients, providers, and technology companies to create a more effective system.

"Technology to fix this already exists."

• There is current technology capable of improving healthcare data sharing and integration; the primary challenge is aligning the various stakeholders in the healthcare system.

"We aimed to launch the Health Tech Ecosystem to work together toward a future."

• This initiative aims to create collaboration among numerous healthcare organizations, signaling a shift from isolated operational practices to a unified approach to patient care and data accessibility.

Real-World Impact of Health Data Integration 45:02

"No one could see her full medical story together."

• Fragmented medical data can severely impact patient care, as seen in personal experiences where vital information was not readily available to healthcare providers during critical times.

"We became the integration layer."

• Families often find themselves in the position of coordinating their medical records to ensure that all their providers have a complete view of their health status, which can be burdensome and inefficient.

"The technology to fix this already exists."

• The dialogue surrounding the need for a more integrated healthcare system underscores that it is not merely about having better technology; it is also about fostering cooperation among healthcare providers and tech developers.

The Future of Healthcare Empowerment 49:50

"Let's build a healthcare system that finally works for patients."

• The overarching goal is to redesign the healthcare system so that it focuses more on patient empowerment and seamless access to relevant health information, ensuring that patients are at the center of care decisions.

"Patients should be able to securely access their health information in an app they choose."

• Future healthcare endpoints will focus on making it easier for patients to control their health data through user-friendly applications that enable quick sharing and access without administrative barriers.

"Conversational AI can be truly transformative."

• The potential use of AI in health care has the promise of integrating various health data points, from wearables to medical records, to help patients make informed decisions about their health in real time.

Fragmentation of Health Care Services 52:16

"The problem is, none of them talk to each other well."

• Many people seeking medical care find their health information scattered across multiple entities, leading to a lack of communication among these providers.

• This fragmentation increases the burden on individuals, who must manually gather and update their health data, adding to the overall complexity of managing their health.

• When patients need care, they face uncertainty regarding issues like provider availability, coverage, and costs, creating friction in their health care journey.

• The cumulative effect of this fragmentation is fatigue and disengagement, which can hinder individuals from actively participating in their health care.

Introducing Health100 Solution 53:00

"Health100 is a consumer-centric platform open to anyone."

• Health100 aims to address the challenges caused by the disjointed health care system by creating a single consumer-focused platform that integrates benefits, pharmacies, and providers.

• The initiative is designed as an open platform, encouraging participation from various pharmacies, insurers, and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) to enhance the utility of health data connected across different entities.

• With a focus on interoperability and security, Health100 utilizes Google Cloud's advanced infrastructure, including AI capabilities, to enable seamless connectivity and intelligent insights from health data.

Future of Health Care with AI and Digital Health Gateway 54:08

"Health100 will make sense of a fragmented landscape and do something with it."

• In 2026, Health100 plans to provide a comprehensive longitudinal health record that consolidates insurance details, pharmacy history, provider records, and data from wearables, empowering consumers with access to their own health data.

• The platform will help users find the right type of care at the appropriate time, facilitating scheduling for in-person visits, virtual consultations, or asynchronous care based on individual preferences.

• Healthcare consumers will gain critical knowledge about costs and coverage, ensuring informed decision-making in their care options, all supported by a digital health gateway that curates vetted solutions based on personal needs.

The Role of AI Partners in Health100 55:14

"The AI health partner will be the primary interface of Health100."

• Health100 will feature a persistent AI health partner, designed to monitor, anticipate, and guide individuals in their health care journey without requiring explicit prompts.

• This AI tool will not replace healthcare professionals; instead, it will help reduce friction, fragmentation, and cognitive strain associated with navigating health care systems.

• As a result, consumers will experience a more engaging health care journey, moving away from having to manage multiple portals to enjoying a cohesive, connected experience.

Transforming Health Care Engagement 56:25

"Instead of manual homework, intelligence that is guided."

• Health100 strives to simplify health care engagement by transforming it from a labor-intensive endeavor into a more intuitive and supportive experience.

• With a focus on clarity before action, the platform intends to provide ongoing support rather than just intermittent assistance during episodic visits.

• By leveraging Google Cloud's strengths, Health100 aims to create a seamless and connected health care experience that encourages individuals to remain engaged.

Integrating Education with Real-World Experience 01:05:06

"One of the most favorite parts for our students is working directly in the clinics with real-world applications."

• Students have the opportunity to participate in hands-on learning by engaging in real clinical environments.

• The campus is located next to Crystal Bridges, a world-class museum, which offers an integrated curriculum focused on education and art.

• The program incorporates educators who teach school children, enhancing skills like art appreciation, listening, and empathy, which are important for personal development in healthcare.

Emphasizing Whole Health Education 01:05:34

"We have embraced whole health, which is front and center throughout the four years of education."

• The educational approach prioritizes whole health in the curriculum, embedding this perspective into all four years of study.

• A health system science track is established to provide practical knowledge for future physicians, including topics like infrastructure and finance, which are essential for practice management.

• Understanding financial aspects is crucial for managing healthcare practices and technology effectively.

Building a Future-Ready Workforce 01:06:31

"We want to better prepare our students and the entire health workforce for now and the future."

• The commitment to workforce development aims to adapt educational frameworks to current and forthcoming healthcare demands.

• Plans are in place for a new campus featuring a high school designed around a model akin to a medical high school, emphasizing STEM education.

• The goal is to accelerate learning for both students and residency programs, ensuring preparedness for future healthcare challenges.

Designing Innovative Healthcare Structures 01:07:40

"The Bentonville Health Care Campus is designed to provide specialty care and promote wellness from afar."

• The new 110-acre campus aims to transform healthcare through advanced technology and whole health principles.

• A focus on preventive care and value-based care is essential, with the campus serving as a pilot site for innovative healthcare delivery models.

• Technology is increasingly integral to healthcare, aiming to ensure more equitable access to services regardless of geographic location.

Technology as a Key Health Partner 01:08:33

"We want to democratize access so that your zip code no longer dictates the type of care you receive."

• Technology is viewed as a crucial team member in healthcare, used to enhance care delivery, particularly in rural areas.

• Innovations such as AI, telehealth, and remote patient monitoring are fundamental to creating tailored healthcare options for patients.

• The goal is to provide care based on individual needs and preferences rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.

Optimism for the Future of Healthcare 01:09:41

"Even amidst struggles, it's important to maximize opportunities for change."

• There is a shared sense of hope for advancements in preventative care and holistic health practices.

• Focus areas include nutrition, mental health, and the environmental aspects of health, indicating a broadening of how health is understood.

• Both speakers express enthusiasm for the future journey of healthcare and the positive transformations underway.

Simplifying Complex Health Topics 01:14:59

"You can ask the Ask tool to help translate all of this terminology into language that you can understand."

• The Ask tool available in the video helps users comprehend complex health concepts by translating technical jargon into simpler language. This makes the information more accessible for sharing with colleagues and the community.

• Users can also use the tool to quiz themselves, generating multiple-choice questions based on the video content. This interactive feature reinforces learning and helps users test their understanding in real time.

Democratizing Health Education with AI 01:15:34

"By democratizing access to the world's health experts and leveraging AI tools, we move one step closer to accelerating and scaling healthcare workforce training."

• Recent updates in technology aim to enhance training for the healthcare workforce by providing smarter tools that meet the increasing demand for health education.

• As of December 2024, YouTube had over 1 trillion views on health videos, demonstrating the significant global interest in health education. The goal is to utilize this engagement to improve health literacy for everyone, everywhere.

Collaborative Initiatives in Nursing Education 01:16:24

"We're partnering with the College of Nursing at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in India to bring professional nursing education through YouTube."

• YouTube is being used to deliver essential nursing courses, including infection control, to students and practicing nurses across India.

• The initiative not only provides access to online content but also aims to change how students engage with their educational materials through conversational AI, promoting just-in-time learning.

Transforming Learning with Conversational AI 01:16:53

"The tool's power to convert passive viewing into active learning builds critical thinking and self-directed learning essential for competent nursing practice."

• Conversational AI enables nursing students to seek immediate answers to their questions, fostering a more interactive and practical education environment.

• This method emphasizes building confidence in understanding complex medical topics, as opposed to merely improving technical skills.

Scaling Life-Saving Knowledge for First Responders 01:18:01

"Clarity saves lives. By leveraging generative AI, we can scale life-saving knowledge across communities and move faster than ever before."

• Collaborative efforts with organizations like the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies aim to enhance just-in-time learning for first responders.

• Workshops in Latin America are being conducted to redesign digital courses that effectively integrate conversational AI, helping volunteers turn knowledge into actionable responses during emergencies.

Closing the Health Literacy Gap 01:18:53

"From students to nurses to first responders, we're one step closer to meeting learners, everyday learners, where they are."

• The focus on integrating innovative technology in health education is part of a broader goal to close the gap in the healthcare workforce and promote health literacy universally.

• This initiative signifies a commitment to adapting educational methods to better suit diverse learning needs across different healthcare roles.

Advancements in Health Technology 01:29:27

"It's incredible to see how much we've progressed since I stood here on this stage last year."

• The presentation highlights significant advancements in healthcare technology over the past year, including the development of conversational medical AI, personalized health solutions, and public health initiatives using Earth AI.

• Various milestones from Google's health-related platforms such as Search, Fitbit, and YouTube were mentioned, underscoring their foundation in research breakthroughs.

Impact of Diabetic Retinopathy Research 01:30:12

"Our work on diabetic retinopathy has shifted from theoretical research to real world application with over one million screenings conducted to help prevent blindness."

• Google has successfully transitioned its research on diabetic retinopathy from a legacy paper in 2016 to active clinical applications, resulting in more than one million screenings.

• These efforts represent a significant step towards utilizing AI for preventative health measures, ultimately aiming to reduce instances of preventable blindness.

MedGemma and Open Medical Models 01:31:10

"To truly accelerate progress in healthcare, we must empower the global community with foundational open models that everyone can use."

• MedGemma is presented as Google's most capable open model, designed to facilitate advancements in healthcare by providing accessible tools for researchers and developers.

• Since its public release, MedGemma has seen over three million downloads and has been integrated into various medical applications, notably assisting dermatology screenings in India.

Conversational AI in Medical Settings 01:32:04

"AI is no longer just answering questions; it has become a true collaborator in healthcare."

• The evolution of AI capabilities has enabled it to act as a collaborator in medical settings, enhancing the efficiency of virtual care and clinical interactions.

• Research has progressed from foundational papers to real-world studies, with a significant trial involving conversational AI set to launch, aimed at assessing its effectiveness on a larger scale.

Accelerating Scientific Discovery with AI 01:32:55

"With AI's capability of generating hypotheses quickly, we are witnessing the acceleration of scientific discoveries that previously took years."

• AI has shown promise in accelerating scientific research, evidenced by a partnership with Imperial College London where AI-generated hypotheses were produced in days rather than years.

• This capability significantly enhances the speed of research initiatives, particularly in critical areas such as antimicrobial resistance and cancer detection.

Transforming Public Health with Earth AI 01:34:49

"By integrating localized health information with planetary insights, we can shift public health from reactive to proactive measures."

• Earth AI is a new initiative that combines various geospatial models to empower public health efforts, allowing for a proactive approach in predicting outbreaks and identifying community vulnerabilities.

• The initiative has already been utilized by research teams from prestigious institutions to analyze vaccination patterns, demonstrating its potential impact on public health management.

The Potential of AI in Healthcare 01:36:58

"AI has the potential to amplify human ingenuity, empowering patients, doctors, and healthcare workers alike."

• The ongoing advancements in AI technology indicate a brighter future for healthcare, making it possible for AI to enhance human capabilities across various roles in the medical field.

• This optimism is grounded in the belief that these advancements will lead to a transformative era in healthcare, providing better and more personalized care than ever before.