Plus: Sam Altman says he isn't on course for a massive equity stake in OpenAI
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September 27, 2024
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. Space travel is dangerous. Could genetic testing and gene editing make it safer? Long-distance space travel can wreak havoc on human health. There’s radiation and microgravity to contend with, as well as the psychological toll of isolation and confinement. Research on identical twin astronauts has also revealed a slew of genetic changes that happen when a person spends a year in space. That’s why some bioethicists are exploring the idea of radical treatments for future astronauts. Once we’ve figured out all the health impacts of space travel, they argue, we should edit the genomes of astronauts ahead of launch to offer them the best protection. Some have even suggested this might result in the creation of an all-new species: Homo spatialis. —Jessica Hamzelou
This story is from The Checkup, our weekly health and biotech newsletter. Sign up to receive it in your inbox every Thursday. MIT Technology Review Narrated: How generative AI could reinvent what it means to play
Open-world video games are inhabited by vast crowds of computer-controlled characters. They make virtual worlds feel lived in and full. After a while, however, the repetitive chitchat (or threats) of a passing stranger forces you to bump up against the truth: This is just a game. It may not always be like that. Generative AI is opening the door to entirely new kinds of in-game interactions that are open-ended, creative, and unexpected. Future AI-powered NPCs that don’t rely on a script could make games and virtual worlds deeply immersive. This is our latest story to be turned into a MIT Technology Review Narrated podcast. In partnership with News Over Audio, we’ll be making a selection of our stories available, each one read by a professional voice actor. You’ll be able to listen to them on the go or download them to listen to offline. We’re publishing a new story each week on Spotify and Apple Podcasts , including some taken from our most recent print magazine. Just navigate to MIT Technology Review Narrated on either platform, and follow us to get all our new content as it’s released. The must-reads
1 Sam Altman has denied he’s due a giant equity stake in OpenAI
Although the startup’s board has discussed him being compensated. ( CNBC )
+ Questions have been raised over the legality of OpenAI abandoning its non-profit roots. ( Vox )
+ Fellow AI firm Anthropic is also a public benefit company. ( Bloomberg $)
2 Hurricane Helene is battering the US
The colossal category 4 storm is a potential threat to life. ( The Guardian )
+ Florida residents are being warned to evacuate as soon as possible. ( Vox )
3 A ‘predatory’ US telehealth startup prescribes Adderall to patients from China
In a bid to avoid a crackdown from federal authorities. ( WSJ $)
4 High schools aren’t equipped to deal with sexually explicit deepfakes
And neither are tech companies. ( The Atlantic $)
+ A high school’s deepfake porn scandal is pushing US lawmakers into action. ( MIT Technology Review )
5 Close to a third of Elon Musk’s X posts last week were incorrect
They were either false, misleading, or missing crucial context. ( NYT $)
+ Musk’s inflammatory posting led to him not being invited to a UK tech summit. ( The Guardian )
6 Science editors are questioning Meta’s claims it’s not polarizing
Respected journal Science is revisiting a paper it published last year. ( WSJ $)
7 An exoskeleton manufacturer is refusing to fix a broken suit
Leaving its paralyzed wearer unable to move. ( 404 Media )
+ A brain implant changed her life. Then it was removed against her will. ( MIT Technology Review )
8 China’s premier nuclear submarine sank in its own shipyard
It’s a major step backwards in its plans to catch up with US seapower. ( FT $)
9 For sale: a brand new NASA moon rover
It’s technically a bargain. ( Economist $)
10 How this family of finches became an internet sensation 🪺
Nesting season is providing essential viewing. ( NY Mag $)
Quote of the day
“Elon Musk treats the platform like his own misinformation megaphone.”
—Imran Ahmed, chief executive of the watchdog Center for Countering Digital Hate, tells AFP he fears Musk will continue fueling political tensions ahead of the US Presidential election. The big story
April 2024
As the number of satellites in space grows, and as we rely on them for increasing numbers of vital tasks on Earth, the need to better predict stormy space weather is becoming more and more urgent. Scientists have long known that solar activity can change the density of the upper atmosphere. But it’s incredibly difficult to precisely predict the sorts of density changes that a given amount of solar activity would produce. Now, experts are working on a model of the upper atmosphere to help scientists to improve their models of how solar activity affects the environment in low Earth orbit. If they succeed, they’ll be able to keep satellites safe even amid turbulent space weather, reducing the risk of potentially catastrophic orbital collisions. Read the full story . —Tereza Pultarova
We can still have nice things
+ Form an orderly line to sample some of the world’s oldest cheese ! 🧀

The Download: safer space travel, and generative AI in video games

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CHICAGO, Oct. 7, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- In the era of digitalization healthcare is moving towards innovation in technologies. Apple has developed more interest in converting their iPhone into an mHealth devices using its technological capabilities and the iOS ecosystem. Vendors are moving towards providing value-based solutions in the market. Telehealth provides higher satisfaction to customers, which is expected to provide improved patient outcomes, higher-quality care, and lower costs in the future years. The UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the Netherlands in Europe are contributing to the highest growth in the telehealth market. Arizton is developing insightful and customized reports to boost your business easily. The health & lifesciences  industry reports are high on demand due to its quality of information. Get flash sale on our selected healthcare reports now! Check out which report is trending:
1. Home Healthcare Market - Global Outlook and Forecast 2021-2026
Home healthcare market  size was valued at USD 276 billion in 2020 and is expected to reach USD 390 billion by 2026. With the launch of many advanced and innovative medical devices every year, people are opting for home healthcare services. In the recent years, vendors are focusing on innovating and introducing devices that are targeting a wider population. Increasing adoption of AI and ML is expected to boost the growth of digital point-of-care testing in the future. Biosensors and wearables are one of the most hiked trends in home healthcare. In developed regions such as North America and Europe, the acceptance of home healthcare services and the willingness to spend on home healthcare devices is high compared to other regions. The introduction of wearable to detect health at home is gaining high traction across the globe. For instance, many companies have launched wearable monitors such as HeartGuide by OMROM, an oscillometric blood pressure monitor that can continuously monitor blood pressure. FreeStyle Libre by Abbott is a wearable biosensor used for continuous monitoring of blood glucose levels. The process of healthcare reformation, that is being applied by many developed and developing countries, is expected to facilitate the growth of the home healthcare market. It promotes patient centricity and a value-based model in healthcare, positively impacting home healthcare across the globe. Get more info now! https://www.arizton.com/market-reports/home-healthcare-market
2. Medication Management Market - Global Outlook & Forecast 2021-2026
The global medication management market size to reach USD 4,517.87 million by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 15.15% during the period 2021-2026. With the high adoption of IT in the healthcare industry, medication management is gaining traction in the global market. The global medication management market is dominated by North America and is expected to witness the highest incremental growth of USD 1,151.75 million during the forecast period. During the COVID-19 pandemic medication management systems have widely helped the management of vaccines among the population. The incorporation of next-generation technologies is gaining priority in the healthcare industry as it helps to better manage and offer consumer-friendly experience for the patients. The trend of adopting cloud services is providing healthcare providers a wide opportunity to grow in the medication management market. Most of the leading vendors in the medication management market are involved in strategic developments. Omnicell, Epic Systems Corporation, BD, Cerner Corporation, McKesson Corporation, UnitedHealth Group are the key vendors in the market. Get more info now! https://www.arizton.com/market-reports/medication-management-market-size
3. Telehealth Market - Global Outlook and Forecast 2020-2025
Telehealth market  size will cross USD 22 billion by 2020 and is expected to reach USD 60.86 billion by 2025. The introduction of telehealth is transforming the healthcare industry. In the US, among all healthcare providers, about 70% of hospitals and 52% of physician clinics/groups are offering telehealth services to patients. Players are competing to increase their footprints in the telehealth market by adopting strategies such as new product launches and strategic collaborations. AMD Global Telemedicine, American Well, GlobalMedia Group, Koninklijke Philips, Resideo Life Care Solutions, Medtronic, and Vivify Health are some of the key vendors in the market. Vendor partnerships and strong IT capabilities are key to the successful implementation of telehealth across the healthcare value chain. The implementation of next-generation healthcare technologies such as cloud-based telehealth is taking precedence as healthcare providers seek to manage the influx of patients, their health information, and their expectations for more consumer-friendly healthcare experience. The cloud-based telehealth market is expected to contribute incremental growth of USD 5.12 billion by 2025. Cloud technology allows providers to scale existing healthcare services and offer new services at minimal costs across the globe. Hospitals are collaborating with vendors to serve as beneficial in increasing the adoption of tele-ICUs in the telehealth market. Get more info now! https://www.arizton.com/market-reports/telehealth-market-size-analysis
4. U.S. Telehealth Market - Industry Outlook and Forecast 2021-2026
The US telehealth market size is expected to reach USD 43 billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 28% during the forecast period. Recognizing the significant benefits of telehealth services, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) have expanded the reimbursement options for telehealth services. In 2020, telehealth providers rapidly scaled up their telehealth offerings and are seeing 50−175 times rise in the number of patients availing telehealth than before. In the current situation, when social distancing is among the major measures used to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth is stepping up as the most promising technology for safe and efficient communications. The government initiative towards the adoption of telehealth services is fueling the market growth in the US. US based Companies such as Fitbit and Garmin have introduced wearable medical devices that are compatible with smartphones to monitor their health at home. Wearable medical devices and enhanced telehealth services is likely to have a positive impact on the growth of the US telehealth market in the coming years. Mergers, acquisitions, and partnerships are further increasing the competitiveness in the US telehealth market. Get more info now! https://www.arizton.com/market-reports/telehealth-market-in-united-states-2025
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Telehealth & Home Healthcare Solutions Witnessed Exponential Uptake in the Last Few Years - Arizton

It is no secret that during 2020 and into 2021 the COVID-19 pandemic has created massive disruptions for a variety of industries. One such example is the movement of health care services online in order to adhere to social distancing guidelines. A wide variety of technology and applications to facilitate this, referred to as telehealth or telemedicine technology, are gaining momentum. This technological shift in health care has resulted in a boom of the telehealth industry and offers the possibility of sustainable growth opportunities for companies in 2021 and farther into the future. What is telehealth technology? Market analysts explain that telehealth technologies are platforms, applications and tools that allow service providers to offer more efficient health care virtually. For example, as these technologies progress they may allow remote monitoring of patients with chronic conditions using at home smart devices and data collection. By doing so, telehealth will save time and money by decreasing visits to the doctor. Another advantage is the ability to offer mental health care and behavioral medicine virtually. These services are said to be particularly suitable for telehealth and have already seen massive increases in the use of online platforms to engage with patients and provide “teletherapy” services. The emergence of telehealth technologies was contemplated prior to the pandemic. Discussions suggest health care would have eventually transitioned to virtual platforms sometime in our future. However, the COVID-19 pandemic’s seismic disruption forced this transition to occur far sooner and more rapidly than originally projected. An article by McKinsey & Company (McKinsey) forecasts that the future of health care will rely heavily on telehealth technologies as they become fully integrated into the system. This opportunity should be, and has already begun to be, seized by companies in this space and those who may be looking to expand into the industry. The Telehealth Market Boom
Market analysts project that telehealth could become a $175 billion industry as soon as 2026. Near the end of 2020, discussions about the massive expansion of telehealth were already underway and suggest there is more to come in both the United States (US) and Canada. In the US the expansion is happening rapidly. Regulatory barriers were removed earlier in the pandemic, which is credited for an already massive increase in the use of virtual visits to health care providers. According to Financialnewsmedia.com , large deals have already been completed and others are underway in the US. This “explosion” of M&A activity will allow companies to consolidate telehealth offerings and improve access to virtual medicine. As well, a variety of telehealth companies are taking advantage of this surge and announcing plans for growth into 2021. As acquisitions begin heating up in the US, this trend in M&A activity is projected to continue long after the pandemic concludes. The story in Canada is also emerging at a slower but steady pace. BNN Bloomberg explains that Canada is in the early stages of a telehealth boom. Investors are noticing and the shares of Canadian telehealth companies have begun to increase significantly. Similar to the US, the federal government in Canada has taken note and is reported to have designated $13.4 million to a few Toronto-based telehealth companies and an “innovation hub” in the industry. Canada’s health care industry spending last year was around $264 billion and is poised for disruption moving through 2021. What does this mean for investors and companies interested in telehealth? Telehealth companies themselves should work diligently to use the pandemic as an opportunity to attract support from investors and find ways to grow their business. As well, beyond telehealth companies, Mergermarket reports that the industry is ripe for investors, large technology companies and pharmaceutical companies to break into the space and acquire smaller telehealth companies with the technology to offer. McKinsey offers suggestions for investors and companies in its recent article including:
look forward to what virtual health care services might look like beyond the pandemic;
focus on the development of strategies to integrate telehealth technology in ways that bridge the in person and virtual health care experience;
identify assets that will provide value in telehealth services; and
take advantage of these rapid changes and disruption in the industry. Health care has long seemed poised to move into the digital and online world, and the COVID-19 pandemic has increased the speed at which the industry has evolved. Technology and health care companies should look for ways to take advantage of this market boom. M&A in this area is a key way that companies can add to their technology repertoire and stay relevant. The author would like to thank Lauren Rennie, Articling Student, for her significant contribution to this blog post. Stay informed on M&A developments and  subscribe  to our blog today.

Visiting the Doctor in a Virtual World Provides Business Opportunities in Telehealth

April 27, 2020 03:28 AM Eastern Daylight Time
Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in the US, the telehealth platform has emerged as a major tool to fight and contain the virus. Telehealth services have helped to ease the burden on traditional healthcare systems by encouraging patients with other disorders and mild or moderate ailments to treat via web-based or cloud-based applications. Due to the rise in the COVID-19 pandemic, the US telehealth market is expected to witness over 80% YOY growth in 2020. To deal with the pandemic, health service providers in the US are utilizing telehealth services that connect doctors and patients remotely. As federal governments have recently implemented the social distancing and nationwide lockdown as a preventive measure to contain the pandemic from spreading, these services have become an effective tool for healthcare management. Hence, the rise in contagious and viral infection is expected to support market growth in the US. With the rapid advancement in technology, telehealth is considered as the future of medicine. Rural areas, war-torn regions, and areas affected by natural calamities require and can benefit from remote healthcare services. The development of the telecommunication system has increased the scope of remote healthcare services immensely. With the introduction of e-health services, the growth of traditional medical diagnosis is growing at a moderate rate. The following factors are likely to contribute to the growth of the US telehealth market during the forecast period:
Expansion of Reimbursement for Telehealth Services
Emergence of Telehealth Robots and Robotic Platforms
Demand for Telehealth Services due to COVID-19 Pandemic Crisis
Increasing Number of mHealth Applications fueling Telehealth Adoption
The study considers the present scenario of the US telehealth market and its market dynamics for the period 2019-2025. It covers a detailed overview of several market growth enablers, restraints, and trends. The study offers both the demand and supply aspect of the market. It profiles and examines leading companies and other prominent ones operating in the market. INSIGHTS BY VENDORS
The US telehealth market is highly dynamic and fragmented, with the presence of several medical device manufacturers, software/application providers, and telehealth service providers. Medical device manufacturers are collaborating with software/application developers and service providers to enhance the quality of care to patients. The rapidly changing technological environment has a significant impact on the overall market as patients and clinicians are looking for remote healthcare platforms with innovative and advanced features. Key Vendors

US Telehealth Market Sees an Increase in Demand for Telehealth Services Due to COVID-19 Pandemic - ResearchAndMarkets.com

Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in the US, the telehealth platform has emerged as a major tool to fight and contain the virus. Telehealth services have helped to ease the burden on traditional healthcare systems by encouraging patients with other disorders and mild or moderate ailments to treat via web-based or cloud-based applications. Due to the rise in the COVID-19 pandemic, the US telehealth market is expected to witness over 80% YOY growth in 2020. To deal with the pandemic, health service providers in the US are utilizing telehealth services that connect doctors and patients remotely. As federal governments have recently implemented the social distancing and nationwide lockdown as a preventive measure to contain the pandemic from spreading, these services have become an effective tool for healthcare management. Hence, the rise in contagious and viral infection is expected to support market growth in the US. With the rapid advancement in technology, telehealth is considered as the future of medicine. Rural areas, war-torn regions, and areas affected by natural calamities require and can benefit from remote healthcare services. The development of the telecommunication system has increased the scope of remote healthcare services immensely. With the introduction of e-health services, the growth of traditional medical diagnosis is growing at a moderate rate. The following factors are likely to contribute to the growth of the US telehealth market during the forecast period:
Expansion of Reimbursement for Telehealth Services
Emergence of Telehealth Robots and Robotic Platforms
Demand for Telehealth Services due to COVID-19 Pandemic Crisis
Increasing Number of mHealth Applications fueling Telehealth Adoption
The study considers the present scenario of the US telehealth market and its market dynamics for the period 2019-2025. It covers a detailed overview of several market growth enablers, restraints, and trends. The study offers both the demand and supply aspect of the market. It profiles and examines leading companies and other prominent ones operating in the market. INSIGHTS BY VENDORS
The US telehealth market is highly dynamic and fragmented, with the presence of several medical device manufacturers, software/application providers, and telehealth service providers. Medical device manufacturers are collaborating with software/application developers and service providers to enhance the quality of care to patients. The rapidly changing technological environment has a significant impact on the overall market as patients and clinicians are looking for remote healthcare platforms with innovative and advanced features. Key Vendors

US Telehealth Market Sees an Increase in Demand for Telehealth Services Due to COVID-19 Pandemic – ResearchAndMarkets.com

The digital health collection includes vendors developing software, platforms, sensor & robotic hardware, health data infrastructure, and tech-enabled services in healthcare. The list excludes pureplay pharma/biopharma, sequencing instruments, gene editing, and assistive tech.

Digital Health

Companies developing, offering, or using electronic and telecommunication technologies to facilitate the delivery of health & wellness services from a distance. *Columns updated as regularly as possible; priority given to companies with the most and/or most recent funding.

Telehealth

US Telehealth provides telehealth services across various sectors, including emergency consultations, routine checkups, and scheduled visits. The company offers virtual medical care that aims to provide healthcare access to American physicians. US Telehealth serves sectors such as remote and offshore oil, corrections, telepsychiatry, government facilities, post-acute care, rural healthcare, and workplace environments. It is based in Austin, Texas.

Date	Round	Amount	Investors	Valuation Valuations are submitted by companies, mined from state filings or news, provided by VentureSource, or based on a comparables valuation model.	Revenue	Sources
10/15/2015	Debt	$0.06M	Undisclosed Investors	$XXM	0 FY undefined	1
9/28/2013	Unattributed	$XXM	Subscribe to see more	$XXM	0 FY undefined	10

Date	10/15/2015	9/28/2013
Round	Debt	Unattributed
Amount	$0.06M	$XXM
Investors	Undisclosed Investors	Subscribe to see more
Valuation	$XXM	$XXM
Revenue	0 FY undefined	0 FY undefined
Sources	1	10

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Platform Overview

US Telehealth

Total Raised

Funding, Valuation & Revenue