Health Tech Newsletter: Sword scoop, doctors and AI, DeepSeek
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Sword Health Expansion and AI Plans
Sword Health, a digital health unicorn, is gearing up for expansion into new realms of care, starting with a mental health offering that could be officially unveiled this month. CEO Virgílio Bento envisions Sword as an AI care company set to transform various care delivery models traditionally reliant on manual labor. The company's innovative approach includes speech care, GI care, and cardiac care, all reinvented with the power of AI.
Bento recently presented this vision at the J.P. Morgan Healthcare conference, stressing the need to move beyond the current "human first" model of care which has seen limited efficiency improvements despite technological advancements. Sword Health's core service involves digital physical therapy delivered through a proprietary tablet, offering users the convenience of completing sessions at home under the supervision of AI technology.
Expanding on this success, Bento believes Sword can cater to a wide range of healthcare needs, including talk therapy for conditions like anxiety, with plans that promise to be "disruptive" and automation-driven.
AI Advancements in Healthcare
In a significant development, a Chinese company known as DeepSeek has unveiled AI models that rival those of its U.S. counterparts at a fraction of the cost. This move underscores China's commitment to cutting-edge technology, particularly in the realm of drug development. The emergence of such competitors has sparked conversations within the AI community, with companies like OpenAI also introducing new products focused on in-depth research for sectors like finance, science, and engineering.
Additionally, recent shifts in AI regulations by the FDA, including predetermined change plan guidance and draft submissions guidance for AI developers, indicate a growing emphasis on streamlining updates for medical devices using AI technologies.
Cybersecurity Concerns and Clinician Insights
The FDA recently issued a safety communication regarding cybersecurity vulnerabilities in patient monitors from Contec and Epsimed, highlighting the risks posed by uncleared wireless communication and hidden backdoors in these devices. Experts have raised concerns over potential threats to patient safety due to these vulnerabilities.
A survey by Corti and YouGov revealed that a significant number of clinicians using AI tools spend time reviewing or correcting irrelevant information generated by such tools, prompting discussions on the efficacy and optimization of AI in healthcare practices.
As technology continues to shape the landscape of healthcare and life sciences, stay informed with our exclusive reporting to stay ahead of the curve.
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