<![CDATA[Psychiatry training must catch up with chatbot literacy, intake, safety, ethics, and supervised AI integration.]]>
STAT+: Hospitals offer chatbots to fight off ChatGPT
You’re reading the web edition of STAT’s Health Tech newsletter, our guide to how technology is transforming the life sciences. Sign up to get it delivered in your inbox every Tuesday and Thursday.
Good morning health tech readers!
Super interested in the list of companies that have been accepted into Medicare’s ACCESS model, the technology-enabled chronic care experiment.
<![CDATA[With Artemis II’s journey in mind, a psychiatrist urges mental health action on climate denial, resilience, and saving Earth before it’s too late.]]>
STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re reading about an FDA push for trial transparency, a Novo-OpenAI deal, and more
Rise and shine, everyone, another busy day is on the way. And it is getting off to a good start here on the Pharmalot campus, where clear blue skies and unusually balmy breezes are greeting us. Who could ask for anything more? Actually, we could — it is time to reheat the kettle for another cuppa stimulation. Our choice today is elderberry-infused green tea. And here is a helpful tip — a teaspoon of honey enhances the flavors splendidly. Of course, you are invited to join us. For the full experience, we are now hawking replicas — take a look. Meanwhile, here are a few tidbits to help you along. As always, do keep in touch. We appreciate feedback, suggestions, criticism, and tips. …
In a bid toward greater transparency, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration sent reminder letters to more than 2,200 companies and researchers that they are required to report clinical trial results to a federal government database or they may face fines, STAT says. FDA officials disclosed that an internal analysis found results were not submitted for nearly 30% of studies that were “highly likely” to fall under mandatory reporting requirements. The agency also noted that the letters were sent to companies and researchers associated with more than 3,000 registered trials, some of which were publicly funded. In explaining its move, the regulator acknowledged a long-standing complaint from researchers who have argued that without access to specific data, trial results cannot be easily duplicated, which inhibits greater understanding of how medicines might work.
Novo Nordisk and ChatGPT maker OpenAI agreed to work together on how to leverage artificial intelligence to discover new drugs, the latest AI partnership in the medical field as health care companies seek to harness the technology to get ahead of the competition, The Wall Street Journal tells us. The drugmaker said it would integrate OpenAI’s models across its operations to help its workforce analyze complex datasets and reduce the time it takes to move from research to delivering treatments to patients. The group said the partnership would boost efficiency across the organization, with pilot programs initially launching in research and development, manufacturing, and commercial operations ahead of a full AI integration by the end of the year.
<![CDATA[A pharma expert and clinician shares perspectives on developing treatments.]]>
DHSC invests in scanning and diagnostic equipment for CDCs
The government is investing in scanning and diagnostic equipment for 36 new and expanded Community Diagnostic Centres (CDCs).
The Download: the state of AI, and protecting bears with drones
This is today’s edition of The Download, our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what’s going on in the world of technology.
Want to understand the current state of AI? Check out these charts.
If you’re following AI news, you’re probably getting whiplash. AI is a gold rush. AI is a bubble. AI is taking your job. AI can’t even read a clock. Stanford’s 2026 AI Index—the field’s annual report card—cuts through the noise.
The data reveals a technology evolving faster than we can manage. From the China-US rivalry and model breakthroughs to public sentiment and the impact on jobs, here are the index’s key findings on the state of AI today.
—Michelle Kim
Why opinion on AI is so divided
Stanford’s 2026 AI Index is full of striking stats. It also reveals a field riddled with inconsistencies, most notably in the gap between experts and non-experts.
On jobs, 73% of US experts view AI’s impact positively, compared to just 23% of the public. Similar divides emerged on the economy and healthcare. What’s driving this disconnect?
Part of the answer may lie in their diverging experiences. Those using AI for coding and technical work see it at its best, while everyone else gets a more mixed bag. The result is two very different realities. Read the full story on what they are—and why they matter.
This story is from The Algorithm, our weekly newsletter on AI. Sign up to receive it in your inbox every Monday.
—Will Douglas Heaven
Job titles of the future: Wildlife first responder
Grizzly bears have made such a comeback across eastern Montana that in 2017, the state hired its first-ever prairie-based grizzly manager: wildlife biologist Wesley Sarmento.
For seven years, Sarmento worked to keep both bears and humans out of trouble. He acted like a first responder, trying to defuse potentially dangerous situations. He even got caught in some himself, which led him to a new wildlife safety tool: drones. Find out the results of his experiments in digital ecology.
—Emily Senkosky
This article is from the next issue of our print magazine, which is all about nature. Subscribe now to read it when it lands on Wednesday, April 22.
The must-reads
I’ve combed the internet to find you today’s most fun/important/scary/fascinating stories about technology.
1 Human scientists still trounce the top AI agents at complex tasks
The best agents perform only half as well as experts with PhDs. (Nature)
+ Can AI really help us discover new materials? (MIT Technology Review)
2 OpenAI is escalating its fight with Anthropic while pulling away from Microsoft
A leaked memo exposes plans to attack Anthropic. (Axios)
+ And says Microsoft “limited our ability” to reach clients. (The Information $)
+ While touting a budding alliance with Amazon. (CNBC)
3 Carbon removal technology is stalling—and that may be good news
Better solutions could now emerge. (New Scientist)
+ Here are three that are set to break through. (MIT Technology Review)
4 AI is finding bugs faster than we can fix them—and hackers will benefit
Welcome to the bug armageddon. (WSJ $)
+ AI may soon be capable of fully automated attacks. (MIT Technology Review)
5 A Texas man has been charged with the attempted murder of Sam Altman
He allegedly threw a Molotov cocktail at the OpenAI CEO’s home last Friday. (NPR)
+ The suspect reportedly had a list of other AI leaders. (NYT $)
6 AI is beginning to transform mathematics
It’s proving new results at a rapid pace. (Quanta)
+ One AI startup plans to unearth new mathematical patterns. (MIT Technology Review)
7 Students are turning away from computer science
It’s had a massive drop in enrollments. (WP $)
+ AI coding tools have diminished the degree’s value. (NYT $)
8 India’s bid to become a data center hub is sparking a fierce backlash
Farmers are protesting Delhi’s courtship of hyperscalers. (Rest of World)
9 Meta is set to overtake Google in advertising revenue this year
And become the world’s largest digital ad platform for the first time. (WSJ)
10 AI influencers are taking over Coachella
Synthetic content creators are “everywhere” at the festival. (The Verge)
Quote of the day
“These people are almost nothing like you. They are most likely sociopathic/psychopathic and, in the case of Altman, consistently reported to be a pathological liar.”
—The alleged firebomber of Sam Altman’s home shares his distrust of AI leaders in a blog post.
One More Thing
We’ve never understood how hunger works. That might be about to change.
A few years ago, Brad Lowell, a Harvard University neuroscientist, figured out how to crank the food drive to the maximum. He did it by stimulating neurons in mice. Now, he’s following known parts of the neural hunger circuits into uncharted parts of the brain.
The work could have important implications for public health. More than 1.9 billion adults worldwide are overweight, and more than 650 million are obese. Understanding the circuits involved could shed new light on why these numbers are skyrocketing.
—Adam Piore
We can still have nice things
A place for comfort, fun and distraction to brighten up your day. (Got any ideas? Drop me a line.)
Top image credit: Stephanie Arnett/MIT Technology Review | Getty Images
+ Someone built a mechanical version of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater from Lego.
+ Enjoy this wholesome clip of toddlers discovering the existence of hugs.
+ This interactive body map shows exactly which exercises you need.
+ Jon McCormack’s photos of nature’s patterns are breathtaking.
Toward a dual-pathway model of neuroplastic adaptation in sport: neural efficiency and neural optimization
Mitochondrial dysfunction, neuroinflammation, and associated mechanisms in sepsis-associated encephalopathy: from pathogenesis to emerging therapeutics
Sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE) is a devastating neurological complication of sepsis, leading to diffuse brain dysfunction, long-term cognitive deficits, and increased mortality. Its pathogenesis is complex, with mitochondrial dysfunction and neuroinflammation emerging as central, interconnected drivers. This review systematically elucidates the pathogenic crosstalk between these two processes. We detail how dysregulated mitochondrial dynamics (e.g., Drp1-mediated fission), impaired biogenesis (via the proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator-1α axis), oxidative stress, and the activation of mitochondria-dependent cell death pathways (ferroptosis, pyroptosis) contribute to neuronal injury. Concurrently, microglial activation, particularly through the NOD-, LRR- and pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome, creates a vicious cycle that exacerbates mitochondrial damage and synaptic loss. Furthermore, we summarize emerging therapeutic strategies that target this mitochondrial-neuroinflammatory axis, including molecular hydrogen, mitochondria-targeted peptides (SS-31), natural compounds, and specific inhibitors (e.g., Mdivi-1, MCC950). The integration of recent insights on the gut-brain axis and cerebral metabolomics further expands the therapeutic landscape. Ultimately, targeting this core axis offers a promising paradigm for developing effective interventions to improve neurological outcomes in septic patients.
Immersive virtual reality as a novel approach to improve social cognition in multiple sclerosis: an EEG-based pilot study
IntroductionMultiple sclerosis (MS) affects different cognitive domains, including social cognition. Immersive Virtual Reality (VR) may provide a novel rehabilitative approach to treat motor and cognitive symptoms of MS. This exploratory pilot study evaluated the effects of immersive VR rehabilitation on social cognition in MS patients and explored related cortical neurophysiological signatures.MethodsSeven MS patients underwent immersive VR rehabilitation with the CAREN system (3 sessions/week, approximately 45 min of active training per session, about 1 h including preparation, 8 weeks), while seven healthy controls (HC) did not undergo any intervention. Patients were evaluated at baseline (T0) and post-treatment (T1) with standardized measures of cognitive, emotional, and motor functioning. EEG data were acquired from all participants, and, after artifact removal, spectral parameterization decomposed signals into aperiodic (exponent, offset) and periodic oscillatory components (alpha and beta power). Power spectral density was analyzed using group comparisons and Pearson correlations with neuropsychological measures.ResultsCompared with HC, MS patients showed reduced alpha-band power, mainly over frontal and parieto-occipital regions, whereas aperiodic parameters did not differ between groups. In patients, alpha and beta power correlated with the Positive Emotions Self-Efficacy Scale (alpha: r = 0.92, p = 0.003; beta: r = 0.83, p = 0.020). Alpha power is also correlated with RAO SRT–LTS (r = 0.85, p = 0.016), and beta with EQ-CE (r = 0.82, p = 0.023). Overall, alpha and beta power were correlated with emotional self-efficacy, balance, memory, and empathy, suggesting that oscillatory markers are potential indicators of clinical outcomes.DiscussionRehabilitation via immersive VR has shown promising clinically significant effects in the cognitive, emotional, and motor domains, supported by convergent EEG spectral signatures. Future studies employing predictive modeling approaches will be required to assess their prognostic value.