The AI healthcare gold rush is here

Startups The AI healthcare gold rush is here Theresa Loconsolo 6:00 AM PST · January 16, 2026 Loading the player… AI companies are clustering around healthcare and fast. In just the past week, OpenAI bought health startup Torch , Anthropic launched Claude for healthcare , and Sam Altman-backed MergeLabs closed a $250 million seed round at an $850 million valuation. The money and products are pouring into health and voice AI , but so are concerns about hallucination risks, inaccurate medical information, and massive security vulnerabilities in systems handling sensitive patient data. Watch as Equity podcast hosts Kirsten Korosec, Anthony Ha, and Sean O’Kane dig into why the AI world is suddenly obsessed with health care, what other products can expect an AI-makeover, and more. Subscribe to Equity on YouTube , Apple Podcasts , Overcast , Spotify and all the casts. You also can follow Equity on X and Threads , at @EquityPod. Topics acquihire , AI , Anthropic , chatgpt health , claude for healthcare , MergeLabs , OpenAI , Startups , voice AI Theresa Loconsolo Audio Producer Theresa Loconsolo is an audio producer at TechCrunch focusing on Equity, the network’s flagship podcast. Before joining TechCrunch in 2022, she was one of 2 producers at a four-station conglomerate where she wrote, recorded, voiced and edited content, and engineered live performances and interviews from guests like lovelytheband. Theresa is based in New Jersey and holds a bachelors degree in Communication from Monmouth University. You can contact or verify outreach from Theresa by emailing theresa.loconsolo@techcrunch.com . View Bio Dates TBD Locations TBA Plan ahead for the 2026 StrictlyVC events. Hear straight-from-the-source candid insights in on-stage fireside sessions and meet the builders and backers shaping the industry. Join the waitlist to get first access to the lowest-priced tickets and important updates. Waitlist Now Most Popular Mira Murati’s startup, Thinking Machines Lab, is losing two of its co-founders to OpenAI Lucas Ropek AI models are starting to crack high-level math problems Russell Brandom Digg launches its new Reddit rival to the public Sarah Perez Anthropic’s new Cowork tool offers Claude Code without the code Russell Brandom Google’s Gemini to power Apple’s AI features like Siri Rebecca Bellan Google co-founders may be leaving California Anthony Ha Google announces a new protocol to facilitate commerce using AI agents Ivan Mehta Newsletters See More Subscribe for the industry’s biggest tech news TechCrunch Daily News Every weekday and Sunday, you can get the best of TechCrunch’s coverage. TechCrunch AI TechCrunch's AI experts cover the latest news in the fast-moving field. TechCrunch Space Every Monday, gets you up to speed on the latest advances in aerospace. Startups Weekly Startups are the core of TechCrunch, so get our best coverage delivered weekly. No newsletters selected. Subscribe By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice . Related Security How a hacking campaign targeted high-profile Gmail and WhatsApp users across the Middle East Zack Whittaker 1 hour ago Transportation Chinese EVs inch closer to the US as...

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