The future will require us to become intentional about human connection, which is why I feel especially dedicated as both a naturopath and a doula. Pregnancy, birth and the postpartum period are where presence and physical support are needed most. A doula doesn’t simply tell you what might happen. I stay with you through what is happening.
I held off trying AI chats until recently. I must admit, I felt immediately impressed. An impression that surpassed my initial skepticism when a friend mentioned consulting AI for emotional and mental health support. I have seen firsthand the elegant and quick responses from AI in responding to my queries. Every bit of data I entered was utilized to devise a seemingly perfect and respectable response.
I witnessed an incredible example of empathy, making and holding space for my feelings, along with equanimity, absolutely free of judgment. These two spiritual principles hold high value for me, and I appreciate seeing such a divine example. It also brought to mind a short video I saw of a couple, where one individual mentions her feelings to her partner and the other replies with little interest or compassion. She then repeats herself to AI, and the response acknowledges and validates her feelings. Bravo! This echoes the memorable monologue of Sarah Connor from Terminator II (a favourite action movie of mine) where she remarks on the Terminator’s faultless presence in her son’s life:
Watching John with the machine, it was suddenly so clear. The Terminator, would never stop. It would never leave him, and it would never hurt him, never shout at him, or get drunk and hit him, or say it was too busy to spend time with him. It would always be there. … In an insane world, it was the sanest choice.
-Sarah Connor (fictional character)
So, what exactly is happening with AI in healthcare?
AI in healthcare has been making leaps and bounds. Apps and AI-powered tools are now easily accessible, and their applications extend far beyond having a conversation with a chatbot.
In conventional healthcare, artificial intelligence is being used to analyze enormous amounts of information, recognize patterns, assist with medical imaging, support clinical decision-making, identify potential medication interactions, summarize patient information and more.
This is where things get interesting for naturopathy.
“At Lifestyle Naturopathy, I am exploring what an intelligent intake could look like. Instead of simply asking you to list your concerns, an AI system could help organize your symptoms according to their timeline, identify connections between sleep, nutrition, stress, digestion, menstrual cycles, medications and lifestyle, and highlight areas that might warrant further questioning.
Your recommendations are then organized into a clear, personalized plan by a human (me!). Nutritional suggestions have practical meal ideas and grocery lists. Supplement protocols are presented in an easy-to-follow schedule.
AI can process information. But can it know you?
AI can take hundreds of pieces of information and organize them beautifully. It can recognize patterns that might otherwise be difficult to see. It can explain a complicated physiological concept in simple language. But there is a difference between recognizing a pattern and understanding a person.
There is also a danger in how convincing AI can be.
A response can be articulate, compassionate and completely wrong.
This is especially important when we’re talking about health. AI can support education and help organize information, but it should not become an unquestioned authority for diagnosis or treatment. Medication changes, serious symptoms, potential emergencies and complex clinical decisions still require appropriate professional medical assessment, such as your doctor and pharmacist. Your naturopath is there to support you. AI is a useful tool for your health team.
And naturopathy is not simply the process of matching symptoms to supplements.
Lifestyle Naturopathy involves relationship.
It involves sitting across from another human being (even if it is a virtual meeting) and noticing what is said, how it is said, and sometimes what isn’t said. It involves asking another question to go deeper. It involves understanding the context of someone’s life rather than reducing that person to a collection of symptoms.
It involves compassion, but also discernment.
The future is both AI and human care.
This is where technology can actually make healthcare more human; not by replacing the relationship, but by giving us more room for it.
But what about the emotional connection?
This is the part I find most intriguing.
People are already turning to AI because it is available at 2 a.m. It listens without visibly becoming bored. It responds immediately. It doesn’t appear embarrassed by our questions. It can offer an astonishing amount of information without us feeling stupid for asking.
For someone who feels lonely, overwhelmed or ashamed, that can be profoundly meaningful. We shouldn’t dismiss that experience simply because the listener isn’t human. But neither should we confuse an extraordinary simulation of empathy with a human relationship.
- We have had a childhood.
- We have experienced a full range of emotions.
- We hold your hand when in labour.
- We notice the tiny change in your expression when you mention something difficult.
- We have a life that intersects with yours.
The technology may become increasingly sophisticated at responding to us.
Our responsibility may be to become mindful of being with one another.
And that, to me, is what I love about being a naturopath. Bringing life experience with presence, awareness, and mindfulness to each individual and family. What I see in Montreal and the North Shore, people connecting, families lifting off with hope, community, and collaboration when we disengage from our phones. ❤️
