BonsAi: the first health AI designed in Quebec, for Quebec patients

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Searching online for information about a symptom can quickly become anxiety-inducing. A headache suddenly feels alarming. A cough seems serious. And after just a few clicks, it’s hard to know what to believe.

What if, instead of relying on “Dr. Google” or ChatGPT, we had access to an intelligent, accessible assistant designed here, for our reality?

That’s exactly why BonsAi was created.

Developed by Bonjour-santé, BonsAi is the first artificial intelligence–based health assistant designed specifically to facilitate access to Québec’s healthcare services. Free, confidential, and available 24/7 through the Bonjour-santé website, BonsAi supports users at every step of their care journey.
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What the BonsAi intelligent assistant does

Quebec’s healthcare system is unique; its resources, wait times, realities, and professional organisation differ from elsewhere. Generic tools provide general information. BonsAi understands the Quebec context.

BonsAi supports users from the first symptom all the way to booking an appointment. It acts as a digital guide that interacts with users, asks the right questions, and helps determine next steps.
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Specifically, it can:

• Analyse described symptoms
  
• Present possible causes and their likelihood
  
• Recommend the most appropriate healthcare professional (doctor, pharmacist, nurse, etc.)
  
• Help find and confirm an appointment
  
• Allow users to modify or cancel an appointment
  
• Direct users to complementary services, such as e-consults with nurses or medication renewals
  
  

Although the questions asked by BonsAi are similar to those a healthcare professional might ask in a clinic, the AI assistant is not intended to replace doctors or other professionals. Its structured approach simply helps guide patients more quickly within a healthcare system that is often overwhelmed and under-resourced.
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A tool that helps reduce strain on the healthcare system

Data observed on the Bonjour-santé platform is revealing.

• 41% of people seeking to see a doctor could actually consult another healthcare professional and receive care more quickly. BonsAi recommends the right type of professional based on the symptoms described.
  
• Between 10% and 20% of users could receive safe self-care advice at home, without requiring a medical appointment.

By performing intelligent triage from the outset, BonsAi helps direct the right people to the right resources at the right time. This avoids unnecessary appointments, reduces wait times, and preserves medical visits for situations that truly require them.

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Why BonsAi is more reliable than “Dr. Google”

When searching on Google, ChatGPT, or similar tools, the information provided is often general, non-personalised, and sometimes alarming. It does not take into account a person’s specific clinical context or the resources actually available near them.
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BonsAi was designed to address these limitations.

• The system was tested by nurse practitioners through more than 1,000 rigorous tests, particularly for symptom evaluation.
  
• BonsAi is validated by healthcare professionals.
  
• Nurses provide daily oversight of assessments through a fully anonymised process.
  
• Content is double-checked using external AI tools specialized in medical validation.

This combination of artificial intelligence and human supervision results in a safer, more structured tool that is better adapted to Quebec’s healthcare reality than generic solutions.
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Data security

Data protection is an absolute priority for Bonjour-santé and BonsAi.
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In practical terms, this means:

• All interactions are anonymised
  
• Messages are destroyed at the end of each session
  
• Personal data is never sold
  
• Medical information is encrypted and isolated
  
• Data is processed on servers located in Quebec
  
• BonsAi complies with all applicable personal data protection laws
  
  

In simple terms: your information remains confidential and protected at every step.
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Important to know

BonsAi is a guidance and support tool. It should not be used for:

• Medical emergencies
  
• Serious mental health situations
  
• Pediatric emergencies
  
• Pregnancy-related complications
  
  

Like any artificial intelligence–based technology, it may contain inaccuracies. The information provided is for informational purposes only and never replaces an evaluation by a qualified healthcare professional.
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