Would You Like Some (Artificial) Help with That? Personalizing Health Supplements with AI

Abstract

A growing number of companies in the healthcare industry are offering consumers the option to personalize their products. The growing use of vitamins and dietary supplements prompts the exploration of artificial intelligence (AI)’s role in optimizing supplement recommendations. This paper investigates the potential integration of medical AI into the personalization of vitamin supplements to enhance consumer healthcare. The influence of AI-assisted medical recommendations was assessed by considering the interplay of patient self-identity and health concerns in choosing between human doctors and AI as evidenced by the Extended Self Theory, the IKEA Effect, uniqueness neglect, and consumer openness. By surveying the literature, this paper aims to explore the benefits of medical AI in the vitamin supplement market; the issues affecting AI uptake in the vitamin supplement market; and a broad theoretical profile of consumers best prepared to switch from a human doctor to AI customization. While acknowledging the current gaps in AI’s capabilities and the challenges of establishing consumer trust in AI-enabled healthcare, this review envisions a future where AI stands as a tool to empower patients and collaborate with human doctors to optimize patient well-being and healthcare. Subsequent investigation might bridge the disparity between the current capabilities of AI in medical support and its potential for widespread adoption.