In a groundbreaking move, Hippocratic AI, the visionary healthcare startup founded by Munjal Shah, has secured a staggering $53 million in Series A funding at an impressive $500 million valuation. This substantial investment round, led by Premji Invest and General Catalyst, with participation from SV Angel, Memorial Hermann Health System, and existing investors such as Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) Bio + Health, Cincinnati Children’s, WellSpan Health, and Universal Health Services, brings the company’s total funding to $120 million.
Munjal Shah’s Hippocratic AI is on a mission to revolutionize the integration of generative artificial intelligence (AI) into non-diagnostic healthcare applications, with a strong emphasis on developing AI agents that can engage in natural, empathetic conversations with patients. The company’s “constellation” of large language models (LLMs) is designed to provide a range of services, including patient navigation, chronic care nursing, and dietitian advice.
What sets Hippocratic AI apart is its unwavering commitment to instilling a human touch in its AI agents. Through a meticulous training process, the LLMs are exposed to simulated conversations crafted with the input of licensed nurses and patient actors. This approach aims to equip AI agents with the ability to understand complex medical information and communicate in a supportive and compassionate manner, mimicking the bedside manner of human healthcare professionals.
Munjal Shah underscores the importance of this aspect, stating, “Our selection of partners who align with our values and have the patience to let us pursue safety over revenue and profits further underscores our commitment to these values.”
To ensure the safety and efficacy of its AI agents, Hippocratic AI has enlisted the expertise of over 1,100 U.S. licensed nurses and more than 130 U.S. licensed physicians to participate in rigorous testing across various dimensions, including medical safety, conversational appropriateness, and empathy. The company’s ultimate goal is to create AI agents that can seamlessly integrate into healthcare settings, providing a supportive and reassuring presence for patients.
Initial results from Hippocratic AI’s internal research are promising, with the LLMs demonstrating a remarkable ability to build rapport with patients. Patients felt nearly equally comfortable confiding in both the LLMs and human nurses, with scores of 88.93% and 88.81%, respectively. Notably, the LLMs excelled at getting to know patients individually, scoring 78.43% compared to human nurses at 57.58%.
Furthermore, the AI agents outperformed their human counterparts in creating and seizing opportunities to educate patients about their conditions, a crucial aspect of adequate healthcare. The LLMs achieved an impressive 89.82% score in this area, surpassing the 80.64% score of human nurses.
While human nurses were still considered slightly more effective overall, with a score of 87.34% versus the AI’s 85.66%, Munjal Shah’s Hippocratic AI has made significant strides in bridging the gap between human and artificial intelligence in healthcare.
The latest funding round will propel Hippocratic AI’s efforts to refine further and test its LLMs, with the company gearing up for Phase 3 of its testing protocol. This phase will involve the participation of 5,000 licensed nurses, 500 licensed physicians, and enterprise health system collaborators, reinforcing Munjal Shah’s commitment to ensuring the utmost safety and efficacy of the AI agents before their deployment.
As AI continues to reshape the healthcare landscape, Munjal Shah’s Hippocratic AI stands at the forefront, pioneering a new era of humanized AI assistants. With a focus on empathy, safety, and strategic partnerships, Hippocratic AI is paving the way for a future where AI augments and enhances the patient experience, fostering a more compassionate and personalized approach to healthcare.