Please use the sharing tools found via the share button at the top or side of articles. Copying articles to share with others is a breach of FT.com T&Cs and Copyright Policy. Email licensing@ft.com to buy additional rights. Subscribers may share up to 10 or 20 articles per month using the gift article service. More information can be found at https:www.ft.comtour.https:www.ft.comcontent2ee8c190-ed28-11e8-8180-9cf212677a57So, it seems Google could soon have access to my health records via its ownership of the AI company DeepMind. As an inveterate googler of health conditions, I suppose I shouldnt complain. Instead of searching for illnesses to match my symptoms, I can just wait for the company to start serving me the appropriate sickness-related adverts.Admittedly, it could be sub-optimal if, instead of breaking news of a terminal illness in the normal way, the search giant just started serving you ads for funeral parlours. Mind you, a tie-up with religious groups peddling afterlife scenarios I could see real interest for them in targeting ads to this core demographic. It might even encourage more range in heavenly options in what is, frankly, a fairly uncompetitive market. Im looking for one with really good comedy clubs, a large Waterstones and some nice coffee shops.But while I have been fretting over Googles potential access to the secret file on my acid reflux, the girl has acquired an Amazon Echo, which means Jeff Bezos is up to speed on any ailments discussed in her bedroom. It was one of these little Alexa dots that the company is pushing out for about 20 in much the same way the drug dealers hand out samples.

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