Welcome to Episode 99 of The MedTech Podcast! I'm your host, Karandeep Singh Badwal, and today I'm joined by Dr. Manish Patel, co-founder and CEO of Jiva.ai and Chair of the AI Subcommittee at the BIA, where he advises the UK Government on AI policy, data privacy and healthcare applications. With a PhD in Modelling of Complex Systems from UCL and nearly a decade building algorithmic trading systems in investment banking, Manish brings a rare depth of perspective to the most overhyped term in healthcare right now.

In this episode, we cut through the noise on AI. Manish challenges the very language we use, explaining why most of what gets called "AI" is really machine learning, why large language models are fundamentally not intelligent and why that distinction has very real consequences when lives are on the line. We look at where AI genuinely adds value in healthcare, from radiology to NHS administrative workflows, and where it is being dangerously overhyped, including some very pointed thoughts on using consumer-grade LLMs to make clinical diagnoses.

We also explore how clinicians should think about AI as an augmenter rather than a replacement, why the productivity gains are real and where Manish believes the biggest untapped opportunity in healthcare actually sits. He closes with a frank take on what impressive AI looks like in a real clinical environment versus a polished demo and why the world is heading toward a very small group of people who truly understand what is happening under the hood.

Thanks for tuning in to Episode 99. Don't forget to subscribe and check the show notes to learn more about Manish's work at Jiva.ai and his advisory role shaping UK AI policy in healthcare.

Timestamps

[00:00:28] From the Human Genome Project to Machine Learning: Manish's Academic Origins

[00:02:09] AI Has Been Around Since the 1950s: The History Most People Don't Know

[00:04:09] Why Tacking "AI" onto Your Product Name Is a Problem

[00:05:24] Where Healthcare AI Really Is: Step Three Not Step 100

[00:06:06] Why Using Grok for Medical Diagnosis IsDangerous

[00:09:48] Should Clinicians Be Scared AI Will Take Their Jobs?[00:12:18] How to Actually Start Learning About AI: Where to Begin

[00:14:01] Writing the Book on AI Agents in 2011

[00:18:04] The Biggest Untapped Opportunity: Administrative AI Not Diagnostic AI

[00:20:40] What Real Clinical AI Success Looks Like vs a Polished Demo

Connect with Manish- ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/manish-patel/

Learn more about Jiva ai - ⁠⁠⁠https://jiva.ai/

Get in touch with Karandeep Badwal - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/karandeepbadwal/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow Karandeep on YouTube - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@KarandeepBadwal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠