Healthcare + AI: Amazon and General Catalyst Collaborating to Advance AI in Healthcare, California Issues AI Compliance Advisory, AI in Kenya

At Healthcare + AI, we explore the latest trends and insights in healthcare and AI. Everything you need. Nothing you don’t.

Today’s features:

• Amazon Web Services and General Catalyst Collaborate to Advance AI in Healthcare

• California AG Bonta Issues Legal Advisories on AI Compliance

• SCAN Group Invests in AI Company Cresta to Enhance Member Services

• AI Reshaping Medical Imaging in Kenya

Amazon Web Services and General Catalyst Collaborate to Advance AI in Healthcare

Amazon Web Services (AWS) and venture capital firm General Catalyst have announced a collaboration to co-develop and deploy integrated AI-powered solutions aimed at enhancing predictive and personalized care, interoperability, operational efficiency, diagnostics, and patient engagement in the healthcare sector. 

The details:

• Combining expertise: AWS brings its technological proficiency and experience in deploying AI and machine learning across numerous healthcare and life sciences customers, along with services tailored for healthcare use cases, such as AWS HealthScribe, AWS HealthOmics, and AWS HealthImaging. 

• General Catalyst's role: With a significant healthcare footprint established through its portfolio companies and the recently launched Health Assurance Transformation Company (HATCo), General Catalyst contributes its investment expertise in outcome-driven healthcare. 

• Integrated solutions: Portfolio companies like Commure and Aidoc will integrate their specialized technology solutions with AWS's AI and data capabilities, enabling health systems to deploy advanced, industry-specific cloud services at scale and speed. 

What they're saying:

• "AWS and General Catalyst believe that AI has immense potential to effect meaningful change in global health care," said AWS CEO Matt Garman. "Together, we are taking bold steps to improve patient outcomes and make quality care more accessible to all by embedding AI throughout the care journey." 

• "At General Catalyst, we've witnessed firsthand how technologies like AI, applied with the right approach to scaling and problem-solving, can drive real transformation in health care," added Hemant Taneja, CEO and managing director of General Catalyst.

The bottom line: This collaboration aims to leverage AI to deliver more personalized care, derive insights on population health and disease progression, and translate expanding scientific knowledge into impactful new care paradigms, potentially transforming the healthcare landscape.

California AG Bonta Issues Legal Advisories on AI Compliance

California Attorney General Rob Bonta has released two legal advisories reminding businesses and healthcare entities of their obligations under state law concerning the development, sale, and use of artificial intelligence (AI). 

The details:

• Scope of advisories: The advisories outline existing California laws applicable to AI, including consumer protection, civil rights, competition, data protection, and election misinformation laws. They also highlight new AI-related laws effective January 1, 2025, covering disclosure requirements, unauthorized use of likeness, AI in election materials, and prohibitions on exploitative AI uses.

• Healthcare focus: One advisory specifically addresses AI in healthcare, emphasizing compliance with laws related to patient privacy, data security, and informed consent. 

What they're saying: "Entities that develop, sell, or use AI have a duty to ensure they are in compliance with all state, federal, and local laws that may apply to their activities," stated Attorney General Bonta. 

The bottom line: As AI technology evolves, California reinforces the necessity for compliance with existing and new laws to protect consumers and maintain ethical standards in AI applications.

SCAN Group Invests in AI Company Cresta to Enhance Member Services

SCAN Group, a leading not-for-profit Medicare Advantage organization, has made a strategic investment in Cresta, an AI platform specializing in contact center solutions. This partnership aims to improve SCAN's member services by leveraging AI to enhance customer interactions. 

The details:

• AI-driven improvements: Cresta's generative AI platform is designed to assist contact center agents in real-time, providing guidance to improve service quality and efficiency. 

• Enhanced member experience: By integrating Cresta's technology, SCAN Group aims to streamline communication processes, leading to quicker resolutions and more personalized interactions for its Medicare Advantage members.

What they're saying: "This investment underscores our commitment to innovation and improving the member experience," said Dr. Sachin H. Jain, President and CEO of SCAN Group. "Leveraging AI technology will enable us to better serve our members' needs."

The bottom line: As healthcare organizations increasingly adopt AI solutions, SCAN Group's investment in Cresta reflects a broader trend toward utilizing advanced technologies to enhance customer service and operational efficiency. 

AI Reshaping Medical Imaging in Kenya

AI-powered imaging tools are filling critical diagnostic gaps in Kenya, where only 200 radiologists serve over 55 million people.

Why it matters: Faster, AI-assisted diagnoses improve early disease detection, especially in underserved areas.

• Startups on the rise: Afya Rekod, Neural Labs, and iZola are pioneering AI-driven imaging and diagnostics.

• Government backing: Kenya’s Digital Health Strategy is fueling AI adoption.

• Global partnerships: Firms like GE Healthcare are investing in AI-powered solutions.

The bottom line: AI is making healthcare more accessible, efficient, and precise across Kenya.