Health tech

OpenAI is acquiring Torch for around $60 million, aiming to create a “unified medical memory” by consolidating fragmented patient health data. This move into health-tech, following their ChatGPT Health launch, signals OpenAI’s expanding ambitions beyond general AI. The acquisition is expected to enhance AI-driven healthcare insights, diagnostics, and personalized treatments, leveraging Torch’s expertise to tackle complex challenges in the regulated industry.

A lawsuit filed by a former executive accuses Alphabet’s Verily of HIPAA violations affecting over 25,000 patients in its Onduo diabetes program. The lawsuit alleges unauthorized use of protected health information for research and marketing, and claims Verily concealed the breaches and terminated employees who raised concerns. A judge denied Verily’s request for dismissal. The lawsuit details alleged breaches involving partners like Walgreens and Delta. Verily denies the allegations and will defend itself. It comes as Verily navigates strategic shifts and funding rounds.