Inspired by Chinese social media platforms, Hong Kong nutritionist Candice Chan is set to launch an AI-powered app in April that aims to make reliable health and wellness information more accessible
The internet has become a breeding ground for unverified health misinformation, with platforms like TikTok often hosting some of the most outrageous claims.
Viral challenges have previously urged users to mix drinks with borax, a laundry detergent, for supposed anti-inflammatory benefits. Other misguided trends included dry scooping pre-workout powder for enhanced effects and pouring beer on the skin for a better tan.
The flood of wellness content online is further clouded by advertisements and product endorsements that can confuse consumers. Despite this, more young, tech-savvy individuals are turning to social media for health advice.
Read more: Getting health advice on TikTok? You might want to read this first
To address this issue, Hong Kong nutritionist Candice Chan, co-founder of the wellness center LifeHub, has teamed up with her business partner Jonathan Seah and fellow entrepreneurs Brent Ferguson and Patrick Deloy to launch Zupe, a social media platform designed to deliver credible health and wellness information and encourage open discussions on these topics.
“We are a social media network, a consultation platform, a marketplace and even an AI tool—all combined into one,” explains Chan, a Gen.T Leader of Tomorrow.
Like other social media platforms, users can share health and wellness content on Zupe. Each post features an AI button that provides additional insights, like explanations, pros and cons.
Chan explains that the AI is trained on extensive functional medicine and health research, including scientific journals and books. “Because doctors may not have the latest nutrition and wellness knowledge or be out of date with the latest scientific developments, we built an AI knowledgeable in this area, and we continuously provide it with the most updated information.”
Wellness professionals, such as nutritionists and yoga instructors, can join as verified experts. To ensure their credentials, the platform conducts interviews and assesses their backgrounds, supported by an external background check provider. Once verified, users can book consultations with these experts via text, voice or video calls, paying by the minute.
Chan’s experience looking for postpartum recovery tips on the Chinese social media platform Xiao Hong Shu, or Little Red Book, inspired this approach. She paid 300 RMB for a baby sleep consultant she found on the app.
