This month marks the launch of AMILI Optimise, a mobile application designed to enhance personalized nutrition through a phased approach.
The initial phase will leverage AMILI’s comprehensive gut microbiome databank alongside Google’s advanced artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities. This collaboration aims to create tailored nutrition recommendations based on an individual’s gut microbiome and their blood glucose response after meals over an eight-week program.
Participants will be required to document their daily meals through photos, utilize a continuous glucose monitor (CGM), provide fecal samples, and complete self-assessment questionnaires to track changes in mood and energy levels surrounding meal times.
Based on individual needs, the app may also suggest dietary supplements, including AMILI probiotics.
The cost for the personalized nutrition program is SGD$750 (US$584), with a promotional launch price of SGD$400 (US$312).
Targeting Diet and Nutrition
This partnership was officially announced during the Google for Singapore event on February 10.
In an interview with NutraIngredients, Dr. Jeremy Lim, CEO and co-founder of AMILI, emphasized four critical factors influencing health outcomes: diet and nutrition, exercise, sleep, and stress management.
However, as a firm focused on gut microbiome research, Dr. Lim believes that addressing nutritional needs is paramount.
“Most health initiatives have concentrated on sleep, physical activity, and exercise, as these metrics are simpler to quantify. Nutrition, conversely, is often overlooked due to the complexities involved,” he noted, recognizing that varied dietary practices complicate diet impact assessments.
“When we collaborated with our Google colleagues, we concluded that understanding biology and behavior was vital for success. Interestingly, genetics forms a relatively small piece of the puzzle; the gut microbiome plays a far more significant role,” he added.
Referencing a 2019 study by Spector et al, Dr. Lim highlighted that even identical twins can exhibit different physiological responses to food due to their unique gut microbiome compositions.
As a microbiome-focused organization, AMILI has gathered extensive data on individuals’ diets, gut microbiomes, sleep, and stress levels. This information is combined with AI to deliver personalized nutritional guidance based on an individual’s microbiome.
“While AMILI brings substantial gut health expertise and vast stores of data, Google contributes deep AI knowledge and has its own food team. Together, we aim to customize recommendations based on an individual’s microbiome and blood glucose responses to different foods,” Dr. Lim explained.
Google also commented on the partnership’s potential to advance preventative health through AI innovations.
“By combining AMILI’s unique gut microbiome data and nutrition insights with Google’s AI and cloud technologies, including Gemini, the program will provide tailored nutritional and lifestyle recommendations based on users’ individual microbiome patterns, metabolic health, and personal goals,” stated a Google press release.
Promoting Behavioral Change
In its second phase, the mobile app will also emphasize behavior modification to encourage healthier dietary choices.
“Given that people are motivated by different factors, merging biological insights with behavioral psychology allows for hyper-personalized recommendations and nudges to foster better habits,” Dr. Lim elaborated.
In this upcoming phase, the app will incorporate features to suggest nearby restaurants and meal options that align with users’ health objectives through Google Maps.
“This means that instead of just advising on what to eat, we can dynamically recommend local dining options that provide optimal nutrition tailored to their current health status,” he stated.
The objective is to simplify the process for users when selecting healthier meal options.
“We strive to empower users with nutritional knowledge while minimizing obstacles, making it easier to find accessible and healthy meal choices,” he added.
Additionally, the mobile app will offer suggestions for physical activities that users can engage in to reach their daily health objectives.
Transforming the Ecosystem
Lastly, the partnership aims to foster healthier meal options and encourage better nutritional choices by engaging with the broader ecosystem, including governments, insurers, and employers.
For example, employers might incentivize employees who opt for healthier meal selections through cashback rewards.
Google noted that further collaborations with healthcare clusters and health agencies are being pursued to make this tool available to Singaporeans as part of a comprehensive precision nutrition initiative.
“Over time, these small decisions can positively influence mindsets, encouraging a heightened awareness of health,” Dr. Lim reflected. “This partnership represents a unique chance for AMILI and Google to collaborate and contribute to sustaining a health-promoting ecosystem—this encapsulates the essence of our program.”
