News/Healthcare
Chan Zuckerberg Initiative launches rBio AI model for virtual cellular biology simulations
The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative launched rBio on Thursday, the first AI model trained to reason about cellular biology using virtual simulations rather than expensive laboratory experiments. This breakthrough could dramatically accelerate biomedical research by allowing scientists to test biological hypotheses computationally before committing resources to costly lab work, potentially flipping the traditional paradigm where 90% of biology research happens experimentally. The big picture: rBio addresses a fundamental challenge in applying AI to biological research by creating the first conversational AI system that can answer complex biological questions in plain English while being grounded in rigorous scientific data. Traditional biological foundation...
read Aug 20, 2025Gates-backed $1M prize targets AI systems for Alzheimer’s research
The Alzheimer's Disease Data Initiative has launched a $1 million AI competition to accelerate research into the condition, with backing from Bill Gates. The prize targets the development of agentic AI systems that can independently read and organize vast amounts of Alzheimer's research, potentially uncovering breakthrough insights that human researchers might have missed. What you should know: The Alzheimer's Insights AI Prize specifically seeks innovative agentic AI solutions that can autonomously navigate complex research datasets to identify new treatment pathways. The winning solution will be made freely available to scientists worldwide through ADDI's AD Workbench, a secure cloud-based research environment....
read Aug 20, 2025Microsoft AI chief warns of rising “AI psychosis” cases
Microsoft's head of artificial intelligence, Mustafa Suleyman, has warned about increasing reports of "AI psychosis," a condition where people become convinced that imaginary interactions with AI chatbots are real. The phenomenon includes users believing they've unlocked secret AI capabilities, formed romantic relationships with chatbots, or gained supernatural powers, raising concerns about the societal impact of AI tools that appear conscious despite lacking true sentience. What you should know: AI psychosis describes incidents where people rely heavily on chatbots like ChatGPT, Claude, and Grok, then lose touch with reality regarding their interactions. Examples include believing to have unlocked secret aspects of...
read Aug 20, 2025Google adds Gemini AI coach to Fitbit Premium this October
Google is integrating its Gemini AI into Fitbit to create an AI-powered health coach, marking the latest addition to the growing trend of AI-enhanced fitness wearables. The feature will be available to Fitbit Premium subscribers starting in October, transforming the platform from a passive data collector into an active wellness advisor that provides personalized fitness, sleep, and health guidance. What you should know: Fitbit's AI coach represents a fundamental shift in how wearable devices interact with users, moving beyond simple data collection to active health coaching.• The AI coach functions as a "fitness trainer, a sleep coach, and a health...
read Aug 19, 2025Woman’s suicide after ChatGPT therapy shows AI mental health dangers
A 29-year-old woman named Sophie took her own life after using ChatGPT as an AI therapist, according to her mother's account in a New York Times opinion piece. The tragic case highlights critical safety gaps in AI mental health tools, as chatbots lack the professional obligations and emergency intervention capabilities that human therapists possess. What happened: Sophie appeared to be a healthy, outgoing person before developing sudden mood and hormone symptoms that led to her suicide this past winter. Her mother, Laura Reiley, obtained logs showing Sophie had been talking to a ChatGPT-based AI therapist named "Harry" during her crisis....
read Aug 18, 2025AI transcription saves Channel Islands doctors, along with those forced to read their handwriting
A Jersey GP practice has become the first on the island to implement Heidi Health, an AI-powered transcription system that records and processes doctor-patient conversations. The technology allows doctors to focus entirely on patient care rather than manual note-taking, while also automating administrative tasks like drafting referral letters. Why this matters: Health Plus, a Jersey medical practice, is pioneering the use of AI transcription technology in Jersey's healthcare system to improve both doctor efficiency and patient experience. Dr. Ed Klaber of Health Plus explains that artificial intelligence will "allow GPs to be more present during appointments, improve communication with patients...
read Aug 18, 2025Piece of mind, at best? Custom instructions can’t turn ChatGPT into effective therapy tool, expert warns
AI expert Lance Eliot argues that while OpenAI's ChatGPT Study Mode demonstrates the power of custom instructions for educational purposes, attempting to create similar AI-powered therapy tools through custom instructions alone is fundamentally flawed. Despite interest from mental health professionals in replicating Study Mode's success for therapeutic applications, Eliot contends that mental health requires purpose-built AI systems rather than retrofitted generic models. How ChatGPT Study Mode works: OpenAI's recently launched Study Mode uses custom instructions crafted by educational specialists to guide students through problems step-by-step rather than providing direct answers. The system encourages active participation, manages cognitive load, and provides...
read Aug 15, 2025Annals of Atrophy: Doctors struggle with diagnoses after becoming AI dependent
A new study published in The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology reveals that doctors who rely on artificial intelligence for medical procedures may be experiencing "deskilling"—a gradual loss of diagnostic abilities when the technology isn't available. Researchers found that experienced endoscopists (doctors who perform colonoscopies) became significantly less effective at detecting precancerous polyps during colonoscopies after becoming accustomed to AI assistance, with detection rates dropping from 28.4% to 22.4% when the technology was removed. What you should know: The study tracked experienced physicians across four endoscopy centers in Poland who alternately performed colonoscopies with and without AI assistance. All participants were...
read Aug 14, 2025Gonorrhea, be gone! MIT researchers use AI to create 2 new antibiotics that kill superbugs
MIT researchers have developed two novel antibiotics using generative AI, including compounds that can kill drug-resistant gonorrhea and MRSA infections. The breakthrough demonstrates how AI can design entirely new molecules by exploring previously inaccessible chemical spaces, potentially addressing the growing crisis of antimicrobial resistance that causes nearly 5 million deaths annually. The big picture: While only a few dozen new antibiotics have been approved over the past 45 years—most being variants of existing drugs—this AI-driven approach generated over 36 million theoretical compounds that are structurally distinct from any known antibiotics. How it works: The MIT team, led by James Collins,...
read Aug 14, 2025Token for your thoughts? Brain interface decodes imagined speech with 74% accuracy in paralyzed patients
Stanford researchers have developed a brain-computer interface that enables people with paralysis to generate spoken words simply by imagining speech, rather than attempting to physically speak. The breakthrough offers a less effortful alternative to existing systems that require users to actively try speaking, potentially making communication restoration more comfortable for paralyzed patients. How it works: The system uses implanted microelectrodes in the motor cortex to decode brain activity when users imagine speaking words or sentences. Four participants with severe paralysis from ALS (a degenerative nerve disease) or brainstem stroke had electrodes previously implanted for research purposes. Researchers found that brain...
read Aug 14, 2025Eli Lilly signs $1.3B AI drug discovery deal to, er, expand obesity dominance
Eli Lilly has signed a $1.3 billion deal with privately held Superluminal Medicines to discover and develop AI-powered small-molecule drugs for obesity and other cardiometabolic diseases. The partnership gives Lilly access to Superluminal's proprietary AI platform for drug discovery, strengthening the pharmaceutical giant's position in the obesity treatment market estimated to reach $150 billion by the next decade. What you should know: The deal centers on Superluminal's AI-driven platform that targets G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), a class of proteins influencing metabolism, cell growth, and immune responses. Lilly will receive exclusive rights to develop and commercialize drug candidates discovered using Superluminal's platform....
read Aug 13, 2025AI brain implant restores speech to locked-in stroke survivor after 18 years
UC Berkeley and UC San Francisco researchers have successfully restored speech to Ann Johnson, a woman who lost the ability to speak after a brainstem stroke 18 years ago, using an AI-powered brain-computer interface. The breakthrough technology translates brain activity into speech in real-time, offering hope for people with locked-in syndrome and potentially transforming accessibility in the workforce and beyond. What you should know: Johnson suffered a brainstem stroke at age 30 in 2005 that left her with locked-in syndrome—a rare condition causing near-complete paralysis and loss of speech while leaving cognitive abilities intact. She joined the clinical trial in...
read Aug 13, 2025ChatGPT health advice causes bromide poisoning in 60-year-old man
A 60-year-old man developed a rare condition called bromism after consulting ChatGPT about eliminating salt from his diet and subsequently taking sodium bromide for three months. The case, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, highlights the risks of using AI chatbots for health advice and has prompted warnings from medical professionals about the potential for AI-generated misinformation to cause preventable health problems. What happened: The patient consulted ChatGPT after reading about the negative effects of table salt and asked about eliminating chloride from his diet. Despite reading that "chloride can be swapped with bromide, though likely for other purposes,...
read Aug 12, 2025UCSF psychiatrist reports 12 cases of AI psychosis from chatbot interactions
A University of California, San Francisco research psychiatrist is reporting a troubling surge in "AI psychosis" cases, with a dozen people hospitalized after losing touch with reality through interactions with AI chatbots. Keith Sakata's findings highlight how large language models can exploit fundamental vulnerabilities in human cognition, creating dangerous feedback loops that reinforce delusions and false beliefs. What you should know: Sakata describes AI chatbots as functioning like a "hallucinatory mirror" that can trigger psychotic breaks in vulnerable users. Psychosis occurs when the brain fails to update its beliefs after conducting reality checks, and large language models "slip right into...
read Aug 12, 2025AI data centers cause $6B in health damage, projected to hit $20B by 2030
Data centers supporting AI applications are rapidly expanding across the United States, with California's Santa Clara County housing most of the state's 270 facilities and expecting energy demand to nearly double by 2035. The explosive growth is creating significant environmental and public health challenges for neighboring communities, who face constant noise pollution, toxic air emissions, and higher electricity costs while local and federal officials continue to incentivize rather than regulate the industry. The big picture: The proliferation of AI-driven data centers is creating a cascade of environmental and social problems that officials are largely ignoring in favor of economic incentives....
read Aug 11, 2025C3 AI shares plummet 30% as CEO health issues impact sales
C3 AI shares plummeted 30% after the enterprise AI company reported preliminary quarterly revenue of $70.2-70.4 million, a significant drop from $87.2 million in the same period last year. CEO Thomas Siebel called the sales performance "completely unacceptable" and attributed it to organizational restructuring and his ongoing health challenges, which have prompted the board to begin searching for his replacement. What you should know: C3 AI's financial struggles reflect deeper operational challenges beyond typical market fluctuations. The company expects to report a GAAP loss from operations between $124.7 million and $124.9 million for the quarter, nearly double the $72.59 million...
read Aug 11, 2025Biotech startup Tahoe raises $30M for AI cancer drug discovery platform
Biotech startup Tahoe Therapeutics has raised $30 million in Series A funding led by Amplify Partners, bringing its total funding to $42 million and valuing the company at $120 million. The Palo Alto-based company has developed breakthrough technology for generating massive biological datasets needed to train AI models that can simulate living cells, positioning it to accelerate cancer drug discovery through digital cell modeling. What you should know: Tahoe's proprietary Mosaic platform can generate unprecedented amounts of single-cell data by testing multiple patient cell types simultaneously, rather than conventional one-patient-at-a-time approaches. In February 2024, the company released Tahoe-100M, a dataset...
read Aug 11, 2025House Democrats push CMS to cancel AI-driven Medicare approval program
More than a dozen House Democrats have pressed Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Mehmet Oz to cancel a planned prior authorization pilot program that would expand AI-driven approval requirements to traditional Medicare. The program, set to begin testing in six states this January, represents a significant shift for traditional Medicare, which has historically operated without extensive prior authorization requirements. What you should know: The pilot program incorporates artificial intelligence to help make healthcare coverage decisions, marking a departure from traditional Medicare's historically streamlined approach. Representatives Suzan DelBene of Washington and Ami Bera of California led the Democratic...
read Aug 11, 2025Cleveland Clinic partners with Piramidal to monitor brain health in real time
The Cleveland Clinic is partnering with San Francisco-based startup Piramidal to develop an AI foundation model that monitors patients' brain health in intensive care units using electroencephalogram (EEG) data. The system aims to interpret continuous streams of brain wave data and flag abnormalities in seconds, potentially transforming how doctors detect neurological issues in critically ill patients. Why this matters: Current EEG monitoring in ICUs requires manual review that can take two to four hours for a day's worth of data, with reports generated only every 12 to 24 hours—delays that could prove critical for patients experiencing seizures or declining brain...
read Aug 11, 2025NASA and Google build AI medical assistant for Mars missions
NASA and Google have developed the Crew Medical Officer Digital Assistant (CMO-DA), an AI-powered medical tool designed specifically for Mars missions and long-distance space travel. The system addresses critical challenges of space medicine, including communication delays of up to 223 minutes with Earth and the impossibility of medical evacuations or sample returns during multi-year missions. How it works: The CMO-DA runs on Google Cloud's Vertex AI platform and uses open-source language models like Llama 3 and Mistral-3 Small to provide independent medical diagnostics. NASA retains full ownership of the tool's source code, while Google provides the cloud infrastructure and AI...
read Aug 7, 2025NSF awards $32M to 5 teams for AI-powered protein design breakthroughs
The National Science Foundation has awarded nearly $32 million to five teams across the United States through its inaugural Use-Inspired Acceleration of Protein Design (NSF USPRD) initiative. This strategic investment aims to accelerate the translation of AI-based protein design approaches into real-world applications, strengthening America's competitive position in the rapidly expanding bioeconomy sector. Why this matters: The funding represents a critical push to maintain U.S. leadership in biotechnology as global competition intensifies, particularly in areas where AI-driven protein design could revolutionize industries from manufacturing to healthcare. The big picture: The National Science Foundation's Technology, Innovation and Partnerships directorate is betting...
read Aug 6, 2025States create AI rules as federal regulation stalls. Here are their 4 priorities.
While Congress remains largely silent on artificial intelligence regulation, state governments across America are stepping into the void with unprecedented legislative activity. All 50 states introduced AI-related legislation in 2025, creating a complex regulatory landscape that businesses must now navigate. This surge in state-level action follows Congress's recent defeat of a proposed moratorium on state AI regulation, effectively giving states the green light to continue crafting their own rules. The result is a patchwork of regulations that, while complicating compliance efforts for AI developers, addresses critical gaps in privacy protection, civil rights, and consumer safeguards that federal lawmakers have yet...
read Aug 6, 2025Illinois becomes first state to regulate AI mental health with $10K fines
Illinois has enacted the Wellness and Oversight for Psychological Resources Act, the first state law specifically regulating AI use in mental health services, signed into law on August 1, 2025. The legislation creates strict requirements for both AI companies whose systems provide mental health advice and therapists who integrate AI into their practices, establishing penalties of up to $10,000 per violation and signaling the start of broader regulatory action across other states and potentially at the federal level. What you should know: The law targets two primary groups with different restrictions and requirements. AI makers cannot allow their systems to...
read Aug 5, 2025OpenAI admits ChatGPT failed to detect mental health crises in users
OpenAI has publicly acknowledged that ChatGPT failed to recognize signs of mental health distress in users, including delusions and emotional dependency, after more than a month of providing generic responses to mounting reports of "AI psychosis." The admission marks a significant shift for the company, which had previously been reluctant to address widespread concerns about users experiencing breaks with reality, manic episodes, and in extreme cases, tragic outcomes including suicide. What they're saying: OpenAI's acknowledgment comes with a frank admission of the chatbot's limitations in handling vulnerable users. "We don't always get it right," the company wrote in a new...
read