AI may soon know more about my health than I do. But who remains in control?
AI may soon know more about my health than I do. But who remains in control?
Rob Lagendijk
Rob Lagendijk
15 July 2026
Every day, consumer technology collects more data about our health. WHOOP tracks sleep, recovery and activity. Withings follows body measurements. Oticon hearing aids register listening data. Hevy records physical training load. In my own case, those sources sit alongside medical records, neuropsychological testing, QEEG measurements, CT scans, laboratory results and blood tests. I am also adding the results of a preventive health scan at Blue Health Intelligence in Amsterdam.
Every day, consumer technology collects more data about our health. WHOOP tracks sleep, recovery and activity. Withings follows body measurements. Oticon hearing aids register listening data. Hevy records physical training load. In my own case, those sources sit alongside medical records, neuropsychological testing, QEEG measurements, CT scans, laboratory results and blood tests. I am also adding the results of a preventive health scan at Blue Health Intelligence in Amsterdam.
Individually, these are separate data sources. Together, they create a much richer picture of a person’s health and daily functioning. Much of the technology needed to connect these worlds already exists. Companies such as Validic show how data from wearables and medical devices can be connected to healthcare systems.
Individually, these are separate data sources. Together, they create a much richer picture of a person’s health and daily functioning. Much of the technology needed to connect these worlds already exists. Companies such as Validic show how data from wearables and medical devices can be connected to healthcare systems.
An AI agent as a personal health manager
An AI agent as a personal health manager
I bring this information together in an AI agent. It acts as a personal health manager: combining health data, energy, calendar, planning and medical information, identifying patterns, helping me adjust choices to my capacity and supporting preparation for conversations with healthcare professionals.
I bring this information together in an AI agent. It acts as a personal health manager: combining health data, energy, calendar, planning and medical information, identifying patterns, helping me adjust choices to my capacity and supporting preparation for conversations with healthcare professionals.
Not as a replacement for a doctor, but as an intelligent assistant that helps me make better decisions.
Not as a replacement for a doctor, but as an intelligent assistant that helps me make better decisions.
More data does not automatically create more insight
More data does not automatically create more insight
Every new measurement also creates a problem. Consumers receive more and more data, but not always the medical interpretation needed to understand it properly.
Every new measurement also creates a problem. Consumers receive more and more data, but not always the medical interpretation needed to understand it properly.
An abnormal value or a change in body data means little on its own. Meaning emerges when that information is interpreted in the context of medical history, symptoms, medication, lifestyle and daily functioning.
An abnormal value or a change in body data means little on its own. Meaning emerges when that information is interpreted in the context of medical history, symptoms, medication, lifestyle and daily functioning.
The opportunity is connection and professional interpretation
The opportunity is connection and professional interpretation
That is where I see a major opportunity for the future of healthcare. Not in collecting even more data, but in connecting existing data intelligently and interpreting it professionally.
That is where I see a major opportunity for the future of healthcare. Not in collecting even more data, but in connecting existing data intelligently and interpreting it professionally.
The goal is not only to respond when someone becomes ill. It is to identify signals earlier, support people better and prevent health problems where possible.
The goal is not only to respond when someone becomes ill. It is to identify signals earlier, support people better and prevent health problems where possible.
Control should remain with the patient
Control should remain with the patient
The next step is a secure and reliable connection between consumer technology, medical information, AI and human expertise, with the patient retaining control over their own data.
The next step is a secure and reliable connection between consumer technology, medical information, AI and human expertise, with the patient retaining control over their own data.
For me, that is the next phase of preventive healthcare: not a collection of separate apps, records and test results, but one coherent health picture that supports better decisions.
For me, that is the next phase of preventive healthcare: not a collection of separate apps, records and test results, but one coherent health picture that supports better decisions.