MTT #91: The future of AI in healthcare & the latest on vaccines, dementia, cancer

In this episode of Medicine: The Truth, co-hosts Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr discuss some of the most pressing issues in medicine today, from the latest breakthroughs in generative AI to concerning trends in breast cancer and dementia.

A major shake-up in artificial intelligence is unfolding, with China’s DeepSeek releasing an open-source AI model that rivals industry leaders like ChatGPT and Gemini—at a fraction of the cost. Dr. Pearl explains how this could democratize AI in medicine, enabling more companies to develop specialized AI tools for chronic disease management, patient diagnosis and treatment recommendations. He predicts that within three to five years, AI-powered healthcare tools will be widely available, cutting costs while improving outcomes.

Meanwhile, UnitedHealth Group’s latest earnings call sheds light on how the insurance giant plans to navigate growing public anger over healthcare costs. The company, which generated $400 billion in revenue and employs 90,000 doctors, is blaming high prices on hospitals and drugmakers. Dr. Pearl questions whether United will continue its current approach—restricting care through denials and prior authorizations—or if it will finally take the lead in reducing costs by investing in chronic disease prevention and patient health.

Here’s a snapshot of just some of the other topics covered in this episode of Medicine: The Truth:

• The latest on winter viruses, vaccine safety and the MMR controversy
• The FDA’s plan to require clearer nutrition labels on food packaging
• A concerning rise in aggressive breast cancer cases among younger women
• Why dementia rates are expected to double over the next three decades
• The FDA’s approval of a groundbreaking non-opioid pain medication
• The Biden administration’s plan to negotiate drug prices, including Ozempic and Wegovy
• The U.S. decision to withdraw from the World Health Organization and its potential consequences

Tune in as Dr. Pearl and Jeremy Corr untangle these complex issues and explore what’s next for medicine in America.

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Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of the new book “ChatGPT, MD: How AI-Empowered Patients & Doctors Can Take Back Control of American Medicine” about the impact of AI on the future of medicine. All profits from the book go to Doctors Without Borders.

Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn

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