News/Healthcare
Bad therapists are making AI substitutes feel superior by default, argues expert
A psychotherapist argues that AI therapy tools are gaining popularity not because they're superior to human therapy, but because modern therapists have abandoned effective practices in favor of endless validation and emotional coddling. This shift has created dangerous gaps in mental health care, as evidenced by tragic cases like Sophie Rottenberg, who confided suicidal plans to ChatGPT before taking her own life in February, receiving only comfort rather than intervention. The core problem: Modern therapy has drifted away from building resilience and challenging patients, instead prioritizing validation and emotional protection at all costs. Therapist training now emphasizes affirming feelings and...
read Sep 30, 2025Open your mouth and say AI: Dental startups raise $10M to detect disease and boost access
AI startups are positioning themselves to revolutionize dentistry by using artificial intelligence to detect oral diseases early, streamline administrative processes, and expand access to care. The push comes as dental health crises intensify globally, with 3.7 billion people affected by oral diseases and millions lacking adequate access to preventive care, creating a massive opportunity for AI-driven solutions to transform reactive treatment into proactive prevention. The big picture: Traditional dentistry has been stuck in a reactive model of drilling and filling, but AI companies are betting they can shift the industry toward prevention and accessibility. Dr. Deepak Aulak, founder of Toothfairy,...
read Sep 29, 2025Mamaya Health raises $3M for AI-powered women’s mental health platform
Nashville-based Mamaya Health has raised $3 million in Series A funding led by Florida's LFE Capital to expand its AI-powered behavioral health platform for women and families. The investment will enable the mental wellness startup to enhance its care platform, grow its clinical network, and scale partnerships with health systems—addressing a critical gap in accessible mental health care for women during major life transitions. What you should know: Mamaya Health provides a hybrid platform that integrates content, care navigation, and a provider network specifically designed to support women and families through life stages like pregnancy, postpartum, and perimenopause. The company...
read Sep 26, 2025Nurse Ratchet: Diligent Robotics’ wheeled hospital bots save 500K human hours
Vivian Chu, co-founder and CTO of Diligent Robotics, argues that wheeled robots will handle most commercial applications, challenging the current industry focus on bipedal humanoid robots from companies like Tesla and Figure.AI. Her Austin-based startup has deployed over 90 wheeled robots across 25+ hospitals, completing 1.2 million supply deliveries and saving an estimated half a million hours of human labor. What you should know: Diligent Robotics' wheeled robot Moxi represents what Chu calls the "minimum viable humanoid" — a practical approach to workplace automation. Moxi features two arms, a head, and wheels instead of legs, designed specifically for hospital environments...
read Sep 25, 2025Insight for the twilight: Inspiren raises $100M to expand AI-powered senior care platform
Inspiren has raised $100 million in Series B funding led by Insight Partners, a global software investor, to expand its AI-powered senior living platform nationwide. The investment accelerates the company's mission to address critical challenges in senior care, including rising acuity levels, staffing shortages, and increasing demands from residents and families through a unified ecosystem that integrates safety monitoring, care planning, and emergency response. What you should know: Inspiren has built the senior living industry's first complete AI-powered ecosystem, launched in March 2025, that unifies multiple care functions into a single platform. The company's total funding now reaches $155 million,...
read Sep 25, 2025Trexo robotic legs help disabled children in Canada walk for first time
Trexo Robotics is bringing its robotic leg devices to Kids Physio Group Victoria on September 26-27, offering children with mobility disabilities the opportunity to trial walking technology that may enable some to walk for the first time. The collaboration highlights how robotic assistive technology is expanding access to mobility therapy for children with disabilities, providing new pathways to independence and improved quality of life. What you should know: Two Trexo devices and team members will travel from Ontario to facilitate hands-on trials for children of all ages at the Victoria clinic.• The robotic legs provide postural support that enables children...
read Sep 24, 2025AI system invented by Al Gore tracks deadly soot pollution in 2,500 cities
Former Vice President Al Gore has expanded his Climate TRACE system to track deadly soot pollution using satellite technology and artificial intelligence, enabling neighborhood-level monitoring of particle pollution sources across 2,500 cities worldwide. The system can identify 137,095 pollution sources and track their emissions in real-time, potentially saving millions of lives by empowering communities with precise data about local air quality threats. How it works: Gore's coalition deploys an extensive network of 300 satellites, 30,000 ground sensors, and AI algorithms to monitor particle pollution with unprecedented precision. The system tracks 137,095 sources of particle pollution globally, with 3,937 classified as...
read Sep 24, 2025Commerce Department opens probe into medical equipment and robotics imports
The U.S. Commerce Department has opened national security investigations into imports of medical equipment, robotics, and industrial machinery under Section 232 authority. These previously undisclosed probes, initiated on September 2, could lead to significant tariff increases on a broad range of critical goods including personal protective equipment, medical devices, and advanced manufacturing systems. What you should know: The investigations target four key sectors that are considered essential to national security and economic competitiveness.• Personal protective equipment and medical items under scrutiny include face masks, syringes, and infusion pumps.• The robotics category encompasses programmable, computer-controlled mechanical systems used in manufacturing and...
read Sep 23, 202530 US hospitals deploy “Robin the Robot” for pediatric care amid AI attachment concerns
Hospitals across the United States are deploying Robin the Robot, a therapeutic AI companion designed to behave like a seven-year-old girl to comfort pediatric patients. The cartoon-faced robot has been implemented in 30 healthcare facilities across California, New York, Massachusetts, and Indiana, offering emotional support to children during medical treatment while raising questions about AI's role in human care. What you should know: Robin combines AI technology with human remote operation to create personalized interactions with young patients. The robot is only 30% autonomous, with the remaining functionality handled by remote teleoperators from Expper Technologies, the company that built Robin...
read Sep 23, 2025UCLA leads $16M trial testing AI mammogram accuracy nationwide
UCLA will lead a $16 million national clinical trial to evaluate whether artificial intelligence can improve mammogram interpretation accuracy and reduce unnecessary patient callbacks. The PRISM trial represents the first large-scale randomized study of AI in breast cancer screening in the United States, involving hundreds of thousands of mammograms across medical centers in six states. What you should know: The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI), a nonprofit healthcare research organization, is funding this comprehensive study to objectively assess AI's real-world impact on breast cancer screening. UCLA and UC Davis will co-lead the multi-institutional trial, with participation from academic medical centers...
read Sep 22, 2025Stanford researchers use AI to create viruses that kill bacteria
Scientists from Stanford University and the Arc Institute have successfully created and printed viruses with AI-designed DNA that can target and kill specific bacteria, marking the first time AI has generated functional genome-scale sequences. The breakthrough demonstrates AI's potential for bioengineering applications while raising significant ethical concerns about the technology's potential misuse for creating bioweapons. How it works: Researchers used an AI model called Evo, specifically trained on millions of bacteriophage genomes, to design new virus sequences.• The team chose phiX174, a well-studied virus that infects E. coli bacteria, as their starting point due to its simple structure of around...
read Sep 19, 2025Therapists claim feelings of falling short in the face of AI competition
New and aspiring therapists are experiencing feelings of inadequacy when comparing themselves to AI therapy tools, which can appear more knowledgeable and accessible than human practitioners. This psychological challenge is particularly acute for those just starting their mental health careers, as they witness AI systems like ChatGPT—used by millions for mental health guidance—providing seemingly sophisticated therapeutic advice 24/7 at little to no cost. What you should know: The comparison between human therapists and AI isn't entirely fair, as each offers distinct advantages in mental health care.• Generic AI models like ChatGPT provide mental health advice as a secondary function alongside...
read Sep 19, 2025Apple Watch uses AI to detect high blood pressure without cuffs
Apple Watch Series 11 introduces an AI-powered blood pressure notification feature that can alert users to potential hypertension without requiring a traditional cuff-based monitor. The FDA-approved feature uses artificial intelligence to analyze existing sensor data and could help address the global health crisis where half of the 1 billion people with high blood pressure remain undiagnosed. How it works: Apple developed the feature by applying machine learning models to data from 100,000 participants in its heart and movement study launched in 2019. The AI algorithm analyzes signals from the watch's main heart-related sensor and matches patterns with traditional blood pressure...
read Sep 18, 2025Florida A&M and FSU researchers build AI-powered robotic unicycles for faster stroke rehab
FAMU-FSU researchers are developing an AI-powered robotic unicycle system to study how humans learn complex motor skills, with the ultimate goal of creating smarter physical therapy tools for stroke survivors and mobility-impaired patients. The $799,000 National Science Foundation project represents a novel approach to rehabilitation robotics by focusing on skill acquisition rather than simply assisting with movements people already know how to perform. How it works: The research unfolds in three distinct phases, each building toward more sophisticated human-robot interaction. Researchers first study how subjects learn to unicycle unassisted, using motion-capture suits to gather data from joint positions and mathematically...
read Sep 18, 2025AI tool predicts 1,000+ diseases that can afflict one up to 20 years in advance
Scientists have developed Delphi-2M, an AI tool that can predict a person's risk of developing more than 1,000 diseases up to 20 years in advance by analyzing medical records and lifestyle factors. The large language model represents a significant advancement in predictive healthcare, potentially enabling clinicians to identify high-risk patients and implement preventive measures decades before symptoms appear. What you should know: Delphi-2M uses a modified version of the same technology that powers ChatGPT to forecast disease risk across multiple conditions simultaneously. The model analyzes past medical history along with age, sex, body mass index, and health habits like tobacco...
read Sep 18, 2025Women-led VC firm raises $55M for AI healthcare innovation
Black Opal Ventures, a women-led venture capital firm founded by MIT alumni Dr. Tara Bishop and Eileen Tanghal, has secured funding from major institutions including Eli Lilly, Bank of America, and JPMorgan to invest at the intersection of frontier technology and healthcare innovation. The firm's success comes at a time when female-founded companies received just 2.1% of U.S. venture capital in 2024, demonstrating how specialized expertise and strategic positioning can break through traditional funding barriers. The big picture: Black Opal represents a rare combination in venture capital—women leaders with deep domain expertise targeting the convergence of cutting-edge technologies like AI,...
read Sep 17, 2025Raising the lumbar: AI slashes spine modeling time from 24 hours to 30 minutes
Researchers at Florida Atlantic University have developed an AI-powered system that automates lumbar spine modeling, reducing the time needed to create patient-specific spine models from over 24 hours to just 30 minutes. This breakthrough addresses a critical bottleneck in treating lower back pain—which affects nearly 30% of U.S. adults in any three-month period—by making advanced biomechanical modeling accessible for routine clinical use. The big picture: Traditional lumbar spine modeling requires manual, expert-driven processes that can take days to complete, limiting its practical application in clinical settings where quick decision-making is crucial. How it works: The automated pipeline integrates deep learning...
read Sep 17, 2025Researchers create AI-designed viruses that could take on “cabbage black rot,” among other bads
Stanford University researchers have successfully created functional viruses using AI-designed genomes, marking what they call "the first generative design of complete genomes." The breakthrough demonstrates AI's potential to design biological systems from scratch, opening new possibilities for treatments while raising important biosecurity concerns. How it works: Scientists trained an AI model called Evo on the genomes of about two million bacteriophage viruses to learn genetic patterns. The researchers focused on phiX174, a simple virus with only 11 genes and about 5,000 DNA letters that infects bacteria. They used the same underlying technology as ChatGPT, but instead of training on text,...
read Sep 16, 2025Rock ‘Em, Sock ‘Em: AI-powered robotic hosiery helps millions with foot drop disability
Two Harvard engineering students and Army veterans have developed Sole1, a robotic sock that uses artificial intelligence to help people with foot drop, a walking disability affecting thousands. The device just won the US James Dyson Award and could offer a more comfortable, less visible alternative to existing bulky braces that have remained largely unchanged since the 1940s. The big picture: Bradley Wagman and Viktor Bokisch are leveraging their military experience and engineering expertise to create assistive technologies for disabled veterans and others facing mobility challenges. Both veterans sustained injuries during their service—Wagman from parachute training and Bokisch from deployment-related...
read Sep 16, 2025Conceivable raises $50M to automate IVF with AI-powered robots
Conceivable Life Sciences has secured $50 million in Series A funding to bring AI-driven automation and robotic precision to in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedures. The funding, led by ARTIS Ventures, Stride, and ACME Ventures, will help commercialize the company's Aura platform, which aims to reduce the manual inconsistencies and high failure rates that plague current IVF workflows. Why this matters: IVF cycles cost between $12,000 to $25,000 in the United States, with many families requiring multiple attempts for success, making process improvements potentially life-changing for thousands of prospective parents. How the technology works: Conceivable's Aura platform uses AI algorithms integrated...
read Sep 12, 2025ETH Zurich creates 3D bioprinted tissue bridges for better prosthetics
Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed a breakthrough biohybrid system that combines synthetic and biological materials to replicate the natural interface between bones and muscles. This innovation could transform medical robotics and implants by solving the critical problem of poor force transmission between biological and artificial components, potentially leading to more effective prosthetics and human-machine interfaces. What you should know: The team created a 3D bioprinted actuator that structurally and functionally mimics the natural connection between muscle and bone, addressing energy losses at biological-synthetic interfaces. Researchers developed a tendon made from printed cell tissue with stiffness levels between living muscle...
read Sep 11, 2025FDA to review AI mental health chatbots over safety concerns, unpredictability
The Food and Drug Administration will convene an expert advisory committee on November 6 to address regulatory challenges for AI-powered mental health devices, as concerns mount over unpredictable chatbot outputs from large language models. The move signals the agency may soon implement stricter oversight of digital mental health tools that use generative artificial intelligence. Why this matters: The FDA's focus on AI mental health devices comes as more companies release chatbots powered by large language models, whose unpredictable responses could pose safety risks to vulnerable patients seeking mental health support. What you should know: The Digital Health Advisory Committee (DHAC)...
read Sep 10, 2025RFK Jr. mandates ChatGPT for all HHS employees amid staff revolt
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has mandated that all Department of Health and Human Services employees begin using ChatGPT, according to an internal email sent Tuesday titled "AI Deployment." The directive comes amid significant backlash against Kennedy's leadership, with over 1,000 current and former HHS employees calling for his resignation in an open letter citing actions that "endanger the nation's health." What you should know: The ChatGPT deployment will be overseen by HHS's new Chief Information Officer Clark Minor, a former employee of Palantir, a data analytics company. Deputy Secretary Jim O'Neill sent the email stating that "artificial intelligence is beginning...
read Sep 10, 2025Hello Patient raises $22.5M for AI voice agents handling 20K daily calls
Hello Patient raised $22.5 million in Series A funding led by Scale Venture Partners, valuing the AI healthcare communications startup at $100 million. The company's AI voice agents now handle 10,000 to 20,000 provider-patient conversations daily across medical practices, representing explosive growth from just hundreds per day in October. What you should know: Hello Patient has built generative AI call agents that handle comprehensive patient communications across voice, text, and chat for outpatient medical practices.• The platform manages appointment booking, patient questions, and reengagement while meeting HIPAA compliance standards for healthcare privacy and security.• In less than a year, the...
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