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Long before AI in healthcare became a buzzword, Peter Whitehead was pioneering innovations to modernise healthcare. Prior to 2003, he was using data sets, classifiers, and algorithms to quantify the pathogenesis of disease and biological processes.  The following year, he invented VELscope, a groundbreaking oral examination tool that revolutionised oral cancer detection. Now used in 23 countries, this set the foundation for his mission: harnessing technology to detect disease faster, more accurately, and to open up access. 

Today, Whitehead is once again at the forefront of AI-driven diagnostics. His latest innovation, is an advanced platform that detects and diagnoses Strep A in under a minute using a smartphone—a game-changer in infectious disease management. Light AI’s long term vision for its platform is to turn it into a digital clinical lab, capable of diagnosing throat, eye, and skin conditions with unmatched speed and precision while simultaneously reducing the cost of care for the global population.

Whitehead’s impact extends beyond technology. For him, it’s about saving lives. Light AI recently partnered with MrBeast to launch an initiative to curb the spread of Strep A in Africa, the root cause of rheumatic heart disease, which claims 350,000 lives annually.

Peter Whitehead is shaping the future of global healthcare—one innovation at a time. 

In this conversation we discuss the adoption of AI in healthcare, Light AI’s role in transforming the sector, some of Light AI’s recent initiatives and the rising concern around Strep A. 

AI in healthcare has seen massive growth, but adoption is just beginning to pick up. Why do you think this is? 

The exciting part about adoption just picking up now is that it means we’re at the very tip of the iceberg. The space is still ripe for disruption. It’s in its prime for investment and there’s not a single chance that AI is not the future of healthcare, making right now a very pivotal moment in time. 

With population growth set to explode, jumping from 8 billion to 9.7 billion by 2050, the singular answer to many of the world’s healthcare problems lies in AI implementation. One of its greatest strengths is its ability to enhance diagnostic accuracy and speed. 

The majority of diseases causing complications and fatalities today are actually preventable. However, to stop their spread, we must detect and treat them swiftly. 

Because of this, we’re seeing the landscape shift. For example, health data has long been fragmented. But given that in order for AI models to be free of bias, they need to have good quality data, diversified data, and a large amount of it. This has been recognised and discussions are taking place around the need for better data sharing protocols across networks and borders. This is just one of many changes we’re beginning to see.

Can you tell us more about your background and the work Light AI is doing?

I believe that innovation should serve humanity not just as a concept but as a tool to bridge gaps and because of this I have committed the last twenty years to innovation in healthcare. I have led and worked for various companies that have used AI specifically as a fundamental driver of change in the healthcare sector. 

In 2003, I invented the VELscope, an oral examination tool used to detect oral cancer and abnormalities which today is used in 23 countries.

In 2014, I began working on what’s now my latest innovation. An AI platform that can detect and diagnose Strep A in under a minute through smartphones — the Light AI platform. Strep A is a burdensome and costly viral disease. We’ve seen its virality strengthen over the last couple of years, especially since the pandemic, and the case rate of more deadly and complicated Strep A infections spike. In fact, Strep A reached an all time high in 2023 according to the CDC. 

Quick and timely Strep A detection is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of Light AI platform’s capabilities. It can be expanded to detect other throat conditions, skin and eye conditions. Our long term vision is to turn the platform into a Digital Clinical Lab. 

From a bigger picture POV, how can Light AI’s technology transform healthcare as it relates to disease detection?

Light AI’s technology represents a game-changing advancement in disease detection, particularly in low-resource settings.

When we refer to low-resource settings however, this is not solely in reference to developing countries. In fact, according to the one in five Americans live in rural areas, yet 80% of these communities are medically underserved. Rural America represents 97% of the country’s land mass. Therefore most of the United States is considered to be a low-resource setting.

Additionally, when we think about urban centers, population density and overcrowding both contribute to making up ‘low-resource settings.’ Thus the scope of this issue goes far beyond the division between East and West and more likely than not the majority of us today, are living in low-resource settings.

By leveraging AI-powered rapid testing and digital diagnostics, our AI technology can revolutionise how diseases are detected, diagnosed, and prevented, ultimately improving patient outcomes and public health — everywhere.

We read that Light AI has launched a partnership with Beast Philanthropy, MrBeast’s philanthropic arm, to help stop RHD in Africa. Can you tell us more about this initiative?

Yes. This is correct. 

In February, we launched an initiative in partnership with Beast Philanthropy to address a critical healthcare challenge in Africa – rheumatic heart disease, which stems from untreated Strep A infections.

For those living in underserved regions with little access to care and a lack of medical resources, our AI-powered Strep A tests (aka the Light AI platform) are a literal lifeline. 

Over the next six months for every dollar donated toward this cause we will provide one AI-powered Strep A test. We hope to provide 10,000 tests to different regions in Africa and need public support to do so. For those interested, they can learn more about the on Beast Philanthropy.

How Has Strep A changed over time and how come in recent days it has become of global concern?

According to , viral infections are responsible for up to 80% of sore throat cases. 

Viral and GAS pharyngitis affects over 600 million people annually, and if untreated, can lead to Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD)—a fatal condition with an annual global economic burden exceeding $1 trillion.