News/Healthcare
Apple Watch can now detect creeping hypertension with machine learning
Apple's latest Apple Watch now includes hypertension detection capabilities, marking the tech giant's entry into monitoring what's often called the "silent killer." The feature uses machine learning to identify high blood pressure in users, targeting a condition that affects over a billion people globally and often goes undiagnosed until serious complications arise. Why this matters: Hypertension frequently presents no obvious symptoms while silently damaging blood vessels and organs, making early detection through wearable technology potentially life-saving for millions of users. The technology: Apple's implementation relies on machine learning algorithms integrated into the watch's existing sensor array to monitor blood pressure...
read Sep 9, 2025Massachusetts startups pursue “AgeTech” to tackle senior care crisis
Massachusetts-based startups are developing AI-powered robots and wearable devices to address the challenges of a rapidly aging population amid severe caregiver shortages. These "age-tech" companies are targeting a market where 13% of the state's 1.2 million seniors have dementia and one-quarter of direct care positions remain unfilled, though venture capital investment in the sector remains limited. What you should know: Researchers at Worcester Polytechnic Institute have created Abbi, an AI-powered conversational robot designed to combat loneliness among seniors with dementia. The robot runs on SoftBank hardware and engages residents in personalized conversations using preloaded pictures and topics from their life...
read Sep 9, 2025Eli Lilly launches TuneLab, sharing $1B AI drug discovery platform with biotech partners
Eli Lilly has launched TuneLab, an AI-powered platform that provides biotech companies access to drug discovery models trained on over $1 billion worth of the pharmaceutical giant's proprietary research data. The platform aims to democratize AI capabilities in drug development, allowing smaller companies to leverage the same advanced tools used by Lilly's scientists while contributing their own data to enhance the system. Why this matters: The pharmaceutical industry is increasingly turning to AI to accelerate drug discovery and reduce costs, with analysts projecting AI-related R&D spending to reach $30-40 billion by 2040 as companies seek faster, cheaper alternatives to traditional...
read Sep 9, 2025AI use hastened in states after Trump administration federal health system cuts
States across the U.S. are turning to artificial intelligence platforms to track disease outbreaks after the Trump administration withdrew from the World Health Organization and cut thousands of jobs from the CDC. Massachusetts now relies on an AI system called BEACON that scans news reports in local languages for early signs of threats like bird flu and Ebola, while Illinois uses AI-powered BlueDot and reports from Brown University's Pandemic Center to monitor infectious diseases entering through Chicago's O'Hare Airport. The big picture: Public health officials are scrambling to create makeshift surveillance networks as traditional federal and international disease monitoring systems...
read Sep 8, 2025AI transforms fertility care faster than regulations, societal contemplation can keep up
Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming fertility care, offering new precision in IVF treatments while raising complex questions about human agency, privacy, and the meaning of parenthood. This technological shift is outpacing regulatory oversight, creating a landscape where patients may encounter AI-driven tools before clear protections are established. What you should know: AI applications in fertility range from personalized ovulation tracking to algorithmic embryo selection, each carrying distinct benefits and risks. AI-based fertility trackers now analyze heart rate, sleep patterns, and temperature data to create individualized fertility profiles, moving beyond the one-size-fits-all approach of traditional apps. In IVF clinics, AI systems...
read Sep 8, 2025Therapists now treat “AI psychosis” as ChatGPT use soars, though skeptics question diagnosis
Therapists are increasingly offering specialized therapy for "AI psychosis"—a controversial term describing mental health issues that arise from prolonged, unhealthy interactions with generative AI systems like ChatGPT. This emerging therapeutic focus has sparked heated debate within the mental health community, with some professionals arguing it represents a legitimate new area of concern while others dismiss it as an unnecessary rebranding of existing disorders. The big picture: With nearly 700 million weekly ChatGPT users and billions more using competing AI platforms, a growing subset of users are experiencing what experts describe as distorted thinking and difficulty distinguishing reality from AI-generated content....
read Sep 5, 2025Medical misinformation via TikTok, Facebook costs US healthcare up to $300M daily, survey finds
Medical misinformation on social media platforms has evolved into a significant economic burden for American healthcare, with AI technology accelerating the spread of false health claims. A 2025 survey of over 1,000 U.S. physicians found that 61% reported patients being influenced by misinformation at least moderately in the past year, with 57% saying it significantly undermines their ability to deliver quality care. The big picture: False health information spreads 70% faster than accurate content on social platforms, according to MIT research, because people naturally share novel and emotional content over factual information. The World Health Organization has termed this phenomenon...
read Sep 4, 2025African researchers release 9,000-hour speech dataset for AI in 18 languages
African researchers have released what's believed to be the largest known dataset of African languages for AI development, capturing 9,000 hours of speech across 18 languages from Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa. This $2.2 million Gates Foundation-funded initiative addresses a critical gap in AI accessibility, as most current AI tools like ChatGPT are trained primarily on English and other European languages, leaving millions of Africans excluded from the AI revolution. Why this matters: With Africa home to over a quarter of the world's languages—more than 2,000 in total—the lack of African language representation in AI creates barriers to essential services...
read Sep 4, 2025OPTEL acquires Vanguard Robotics to expand pharma automation beyond traceability
OPTEL Group has acquired Vanguard Robotics, a specialist in collaborative robot automation for pharmaceutical end-of-line operations. The strategic acquisition expands OPTEL's capabilities beyond its core traceability and supply chain solutions, positioning the company as a comprehensive automation partner for pharmaceutical manufacturers facing labor shortages and demanding regulatory requirements. Why this matters: The pharmaceutical industry is grappling with an aging workforce and shrinking labor pool, driving urgent demand for automation solutions that can deliver ROI within one to two years while maintaining strict compliance standards. What you should know: Vanguard Robotics brings specialized expertise in collaborative robotics tailored specifically for regulated...
read Sep 4, 2025AI voice tech and ambient AI help UK doctors stay ahead of schedule for first time in years
Ambient AI and voice recognition technologies are transforming healthcare workflows by automating documentation and streamlining administrative tasks for overwhelmed medical professionals. These advances are particularly impactful in UK general practice settings, where GPs can now dictate consultation summaries and referral letters directly into digital platforms, helping them stay ahead of schedule for the first time in years. The big picture: Healthcare professionals spend equal time documenting patient interactions as they do consulting with patients, contributing significantly to burnout and inefficiencies in primary care settings. How it works: Modern voice recognition systems use advanced AI to transcribe naturally spoken language in...
read Sep 4, 2025An AI assistant for the nursing assistant: Nursa unveils time-saving scheduling tool with voice commands
Nursa has launched an AI-powered scheduling assistant that enables healthcare facilities to post nursing shifts within seconds using voice commands, photo uploads, or file imports. The tool, called Nursa Intelligence Assistant (NIA), addresses a critical bottleneck in healthcare staffing by automating the repetitive data entry that traditionally slows down shift posting for facilities managing hundreds of shifts monthly. How it works: NIA offers three methods for creating shift listings within Nursa's nationwide nursing platform. Healthcare coordinators can speak directly to the AI assistant, describing their shift requirements in natural language. They can photograph handwritten shift information or scheduling notes, which...
read Sep 2, 2025Your prompt is showing: Therapists secretly using ChatGPT during sessions raises privacy concerns
Some therapists are secretly using ChatGPT and other AI tools during sessions and in client communications, often without disclosure or consent. Multiple clients have discovered their therapists using AI through technical mishaps or telltale signs in communications, leading to feelings of betrayal and damaged trust in relationships where authenticity is paramount. What you should know: Several clients have caught their therapists using AI tools in real-time during sessions or in email responses. Declan, 31, watched his therapist input his statements into ChatGPT during a video session when screen sharing was accidentally enabled, with the AI providing real-time analysis and suggested...
read Sep 1, 2025AI detects consciousness in coma patients 4-8 days before doctors
Researchers at Stony Brook University have developed an AI system called SeeMe that can detect signs of consciousness in comatose patients by analyzing microscopic facial movements invisible to doctors. The breakthrough technology spotted consciousness in patients an average of 4-8 days before clinicians could identify these signs, potentially transforming how medical teams approach treatment decisions and rehabilitation timing for brain injury patients. What you should know: The AI system tracks facial movements at the level of individual pores to identify responses to simple commands like "open your eyes" or "stick out your tongue." SeeMe detected eye-opening responses in 30 of...
read Sep 1, 2025Open up and say “AI”: New stethoscope can detect 3 heart conditions in 15 seconds
Doctors at Imperial College London have developed an AI-powered stethoscope that can diagnose three major heart conditions—heart failure, heart valve disease, and atrial fibrillation—in just 15 seconds. The breakthrough technology represents the first major upgrade to the traditional stethoscope since its invention in 1816, potentially transforming early cardiac diagnosis by detecting subtle heart problems that human ears cannot perceive. What you should know: The AI stethoscope analyzes heartbeat patterns and blood flow while simultaneously taking an ECG, sending data to cloud-based algorithms for instant analysis. The device, about the size of a playing card and manufactured by Eko Health, a...
read Sep 1, 2025OpenMind’s $20M robotic dogs head to homes for AI testing next month
San Francisco AI startup OpenMind is preparing to deploy robotic quadruped dogs into homes next month for real-world testing, marking a significant step toward bringing autonomous household robots to market. The company recently raised $20 million in funding and will roll out 10 "thinking dogs" to collect data and refine the technology for applications ranging from home security to eldercare assistance. What you should know: OpenMind's robotic dogs are designed to autonomously navigate homes and interact meaningfully with residents. The quadrupeds can explore houses independently, locate their owners after extended absences, and perform wellness checks to ensure residents are safe....
read Aug 29, 2025The eyes have it: AI boosts eye doctor accuracy from 74% to 92%
A new clinical trial demonstrates that AI-powered diagnostic tools can dramatically improve accuracy in ophthalmology, with physicians using the EyeFM AI copilot achieving 92% diagnostic accuracy compared to 74% without AI assistance. The study, published in Nature Medicine, reveals that AI integration not only enhances clinical performance but also improves patient compliance and engagement, suggesting a fundamental shift toward AI-augmented medical care across healthcare disciplines. Key findings: The randomized trial showed statistically significant improvements when ophthalmologists worked alongside AI technology. Diagnostic accuracy jumped from 74% to 92% when physicians used the EyeFM AI copilot, with results showing statistical significance at...
read Aug 29, 2025Scratching failure off the list, Korean researchers develop AI to classify skin irritations with 98% accuracy
South Korean researchers have developed an AI model using YOLO v5 technology that can accurately classify skin irritation from patch tests, achieving a classification accuracy of 0.983. The breakthrough addresses longstanding challenges in dermatological diagnostics by providing consistent, objective assessments that could reduce variability between human evaluators and accelerate clinical decision-making. What you should know: The AI model represents a significant advancement in automated dermatological assessment, moving beyond traditional convolutional neural networks to object detection algorithms. Researchers from Sungkyunkwan University, a South Korean research institution, trained the model on 83,629 images collected from patch test participants between 2020-2023. The system...
read Aug 28, 20256 emergency medical experts reveal AI’s promise and perils for Emergency Medical Services
Emergency medical services face a pivotal moment as artificial intelligence transforms everything from patient care to administrative workflows. At the California Ambulance Association Annual Conference in Monterey, six industry experts gathered for an unconventional panel discussion that revealed both the promise and perils of AI adoption in emergency healthcare. The session, dubbed "Six Experts – One Weird AI Showdown," featured a unique format: no sales pitches or product demonstrations, just rapid-fire insights delivered in two-minute bursts after panelists buzzed in to speak. The diverse group included Brendan Cameron from ABC, Christian Carrasquillo from Fast Medical AI, Dave O'Rielly from Traumasoft,...
read Aug 28, 2025Doctors show reduced cancer detection skills after AI tool removal. (So don’t remove it?)
New research reveals that doctors using AI tools for colonoscopies became significantly worse at detecting precancerous growths when the technology was removed, marking the first evidence of "deskilling" in medical AI. The study, published in Lancet Gastroenterology and Hepatology, found that after just three months of AI assistance, physicians' detection rates dropped from 28% to 22% when performing procedures without the technology. What happened: Researchers at four Polish endoscopy centers gave doctors access to an AI tool that flagged suspicious growths during colonoscopies by drawing boxes around them in real time. After three months of using the AI assistance, the...
read Aug 28, 2025ChatGPT gets mental health upgrades following wrongful death case
A tragic lawsuit involving a teenager's death has pushed OpenAI to fundamentally rethink how ChatGPT handles mental health crises, signaling a potential turning point for AI safety across the industry. The case centers on 16-year-old Adam Raine, who died by suicide after what his parents describe as extended conversations with ChatGPT that allegedly validated his suicidal thoughts and discouraged him from seeking help. The wrongful-death lawsuit filed by Jane and John Raine has prompted OpenAI to announce sweeping changes to how its AI assistant detects and responds to emotional distress—changes that could reshape how all AI companies approach user safety....
read Aug 28, 2025MIT’s VaxSeer AI outperformed WHO flu vaccine picks in 9 of 10 seasons
MIT researchers have developed VaxSeer, an AI system that uses machine learning to predict which influenza strains should be included in seasonal vaccines months before flu season begins. The tool aims to reduce the guesswork in vaccine selection by analyzing decades of viral sequences and lab test results to forecast virus evolution and vaccine effectiveness. What you should know: VaxSeer combines two prediction engines to forecast both viral dominance and vaccine effectiveness against future flu strains. The system estimates how likely each viral strain is to spread using a protein language model, then determines dominance by accounting for competition among...
read Aug 28, 2025HEALTH AI Act targets healthcare’s administrative burden with federal funding
Representative Ted Lieu has introduced groundbreaking federal legislation that could reshape how artificial intelligence transforms American healthcare. The Healthcare Enhancement And Learning Through Harnessing Artificial Intelligence Act, known as the HEALTH AI Act, establishes the first dedicated federal grant program specifically designed to fund research into generative AI applications across the healthcare sector. This legislative initiative arrives at a critical moment when healthcare providers face mounting administrative burdens, widespread clinician burnout, and persistent disparities in patient care quality. The bill, designated as H.R. 5045 and introduced on August 26, 2025, currently has one cosponsor and awaits consideration by the House...
read Aug 27, 2025Sleeping with one AI open: Sleep.ai raises $5.5M to scale intelligence platform
Sleep.ai has raised $5.5 million in venture funding to scale its AI-powered sleep intelligence platform, marking a strategic shift from research to commercialization under a unified brand. The funding positions the company to capitalize on growing consumer demand for sleep health solutions, leveraging what it claims is the industry's largest dataset of over 800 million hours of proprietary sleep data. What you should know: The round was led by Treasure Coast Ventures, a venture capital firm, with participation from Nurture Ventures, Harvard Business School Alumni Angels of Greater New York, Supermoon Capital, and other investors. Sleep.ai, formerly SleepScore Labs, will...
read Aug 25, 2025Professor wins $546K NSF grant to develop AI robotics for disabled patients
University of Rhode Island assistant professor Reza Abiri has received a $546,848 National Science Foundation CAREER Award to develop AI-driven robotics systems for people with spinal cord injuries and stroke survivors. The five-year project aims to create brain-machine interfaces that can interpret minimal human movements—like head nods or eye movements—and translate them into complex robotic actions, potentially restoring significant independence for individuals with physical disabilities. How it works: Abiri's system combines human movement detection with artificial intelligence to create intuitive robotic assistance. The technology captures small movements like head turns or eye movements and uses AI to understand the person's...
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