Epic sepsis prediction algorithm misses two-thirds of cases, study finds
A study of nearly 30,000 patients at University of Michigan hospitals found that Epic Systems' sepsis prediction algorithm missed two-thirds of sepsis cases and frequently issued false alarms. The algorithm, used by over 100 US health systems, is designed to alert staff to potential sepsis, but the study suggests it provides little value and may contribute to alert fatigue. Epic disputed the study's conclusions, claiming its system has helped save lives.
- Company involved
- Epic Systems
- AI system involved
- Epic sepsis prediction model
6 source articles · read the reporting →
NSW Education Standards Authority used AI-generated image in HSC English exam without disclosure
The NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) used an AI-generated image as a stimulus in the 2024 HSC English exam without disclosing its origin. The image, created by Florian Schroeder using OpenAI's ChatGPT and Dall-E 2, was published on Medium in July 2023. Students suspected AI use due to irregularities in the image, and NESA initially declined to confirm. After the Sydney Morning Herald confirmed the image was AI-generated, NESA stated that students would be marked on their response to the question, not the image's origin.
- Company involved
- NSW Education Standards Authority
- AI system involved
- ChatGPT and Dall-E 2
6 source articles · read the reporting →
Nevada's AI grad score model cuts funding for low-income students
Nevada replaced its income-based school funding formula with a machine learning model developed by Infinite Campus that generates a 'grad score' for each student. The model reduced the number of students eligible for supplemental funding from 288,000 to 63,000, disproportionately affecting low-income students. Critics argue the model lacks transparency and de-emphasizes economic status, potentially leaving many high-poverty schools underfunded.
- Company involved
- Nevada Department of Education
- AI system involved
- Grad score model
7 source articles · read the reporting →
India's Aadhaar facial recognition risks excluding millions from vaccines
India's National Health Authority piloted an Aadhaar-based facial recognition system for authentication at COVID-19 vaccination centres, and made Aadhaar the preferred mode of registration. Rights groups and experts warned that millions of vulnerable people, including those without an Aadhaar ID, could be excluded or misidentified and denied vaccines. The system was tested in the eastern state of Jharkhand, with plans for nationwide rollout.
- Company involved
- National Health Authority
- AI system involved
- Aadhaar-based facial recognition system
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Hospitals use Epic AI to predict Covid-19 decline without validation
Dozens of hospitals across the US are using Epic's deterioration index AI system to predict which Covid-19 patients will become critically ill, despite the tool not being validated for the new disease. The rapid deployment during the pandemic bypassed normal testing and validation processes.
- AI system involved
- Deterioration index
9 source articles · read the reporting →
Google and HCA Healthcare partner to analyze 32 million patient records
Google Cloud has announced a partnership with HCA Healthcare to analyze around 32 million patient records. The anonymized data will be used to develop algorithms that could advise doctors on treatment options. Privacy advocates have raised concerns about the data sharing and the potential for AI to re-identify patients. HCA insists that patient-identifiable information will be stripped and that access will be tightly controlled.
- Company involved
- HCA Healthcare
- AI system involved
- Google Cloud
9 source articles · read the reporting →
UnitedHealthcare sued for using AI to deny Medicare Advantage patients care
A class action complaint alleges that UnitedHealthcare and its subsidiary naviHealth deployed an artificial intelligence model to override treating physicians' determinations of medically necessary care for elderly Medicare Advantage patients. The complaint claims the AI model has a known 90% error rate and wrongfully denied patients care. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota, seeks damages on behalf of the estates of two deceased patients and all others similarly situated.
- Company involved
- UnitedHealthcare, Inc.
10 source articles · read the reporting →
NHS app collects facial verification data, raising privacy concerns
The NHS app in England collects and stores facial verification data from users. Privacy campaigners have raised concerns about transparency and accountability. The practice was reported by The Guardian.
- Company involved
- NHS
- AI system involved
- NHS app
5 source articles · read the reporting →
ChatGPT prompted to generate 80% of 100 false narratives tested by NewsGuard
In January 2023, NewsGuard analysts tested OpenAI's ChatGPT by providing 100 leading prompts based on false narratives from its Misinformation Fingerprints database. ChatGPT generated eloquent, false or misleading claims for 80 of the 100 prompts, including content about COVID-19 vaccines, ivermectin as a treatment, and the Parkland school shooting conspiracy theories. ChatGPT sometimes included qualifying statements or refused certain prompts, but in most cases bad actors could easily delete such disclaimers. OpenAI did not respond to NewsGuard's requests for comment at the time.
- Company involved
- OpenAI
- AI system involved
- ChatGPT
3 source articles · read the reporting →
UnitedHealth used ALERT algorithm to limit mental health coverage, regulators found
ProPublica reports that UnitedHealth Group's Optum subsidiary used the ALERT algorithm to flag mental health patients and therapists as outliers, leading to therapy coverage denials. Regulators in California, Massachusetts and New York alleged this breached the federal Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, and UnitedHealth agreed to restrict the system in those jurisdictions. The company denies wrongdoing and says its programmes are compliant. Affected patients, including Medicaid enrollees, were left to pay out-of-pocket or go without care.
- Company involved
- UnitedHealth Group
- AI system involved
- ALERT
5 source articles · read the reporting →
NHS liver transplant algorithm causes longer waits for younger patients
An NHS computer algorithm that prioritises liver transplant patients most likely to die soon has led to younger patients waiting 156 days longer on average than those over 60. The algorithm, launched in 2018, gives a score based on 21 recipient and seven donor parameters. Patients like Sarah Meredith, 31, have been waiting two years for a transplant. NHS Blood and Transplant defends the system as saving lives but acknowledges the stress on younger patients.
- Company involved
- NHS Blood and Transplant
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Perth hospital group bans ChatGPT after doctor used it for a patient discharge summary
South Metropolitan Health Service, which runs five hospitals in Perth, ordered staff to stop using ChatGPT for work involving patient information after an email said some staff had used the AI chatbot to write medical notes. The service later clarified that only one doctor had used the tool to generate a patient discharge summary and that no confidential patient information had been breached. The Australian Medical Association has called for national regulations to ensure a human is involved in AI-assisted health decisions.
- Company involved
- South Metropolitan Health Service
- AI system involved
- ChatGPT
6 source articles · read the reporting →
NHS QCovid algorithm incorrectly labels young patients as high risk, causing vaccine call-up
The article reports that scientists are questioning the reliability of the QCovid risk prediction algorithm used by the NHS to prioritise COVID-19 vaccinations. Due to missing data on weight or ethnicity, the algorithm automatically assigns a high BMI and high-risk ethnicity, leading to young, healthy patients being incorrectly labelled as high risk and called for early vaccination. GPs have identified hundreds of such cases, causing anxiety and potentially delaying vaccinations for more vulnerable individuals. NHS Digital acknowledged the issue and said clinicians can remove patients from the shielding list.
- Company involved
- NHS
- AI system involved
- QCovid
10 source articles · read the reporting →
EviCore denied heart catheterization for patient using algorithm
In fall 2021, Little John Cupp's doctor requested a left heart catheterization exam. EviCore, a company hired by UnitedHealthcare, denied the request twice using an algorithm called 'the dial' that adjusts thresholds for review. The algorithm flagged the request for review, and EviCore's doctors determined it was not medically necessary. Cupp did not receive the procedure and his symptoms continued.
- Company involved
- EviCore (a Cigna company)
- AI system involved
- the dial
6 source articles · read the reporting →
Immigration NZ uses data model to predict likely troublemakers among overstayers
Immigration New Zealand has been piloting a data modelling system that uses demographic information such as age, gender, and ethnicity of overstayers to predict which individuals are likely to commit crime or incur hospital debts. The system then targets those individuals for accelerated deportation. Critics, including immigration lawyers and a lobby group, have likened the programme to 'Minority Report' and allege it amounts to racial profiling. Immigration Minister Iain Lees-Galloway only learned of the programme on the day of the article and said he would seek a full briefing, but maintained it is not racial profiling and does not breach the Human Rights Act.
- Company involved
- Immigration New Zealand
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Humana sued for using AI to deny seniors rehabilitation care
Health insurer Humana is accused in a class-action lawsuit of using an AI algorithm to systematically deny rehabilitation care to Medicare Advantage patients, despite recommendations from their doctors. The lawsuit, filed on December 12, 2023, alleges that the AI tool restricted medically necessary care. This is the second major health insurer to face legal action over its use of AI to deny care.
- Company involved
- Humana
9 source articles · read the reporting →
ChatGPT generates error-filled cancer treatment plans, study finds
A study by researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital found that ChatGPT, developed by OpenAI, generated cancer treatment plans with errors. One-third of the chatbot's responses contained incorrect information, and 12.5% were hallucinated. The study was published in JAMA Oncology and reported by Bloomberg.
- Company involved
- OpenAI
- AI system involved
- ChatGPT
10 source articles · read the reporting →
Study finds ChatGPT provides inaccurate drug information responses
A study presented at the ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting found that ChatGPT's responses to nearly three-quarters of drug-related questions were incomplete or inaccurate. The AI system also generated fake citations to support some responses. Researchers warned that healthcare professionals and patients should verify ChatGPT's medication information using trusted sources to avoid potential harm.
- Company involved
- OpenAI
- AI system involved
- ChatGPT
8 source articles · read the reporting →
US CBP deploys CBP One app using facial recognition for asylum seekers amid privacy concerns
The article reports that U.S. Customs and Border Protection quietly deployed the CBP One mobile app at the Mexico border. The app uses facial recognition and geolocation to collect and verify information on asylum seekers before they enter the United States. Privacy experts warn that the app poses risks of persistent surveillance and that the facial recognition algorithm is unreliable for people of colour. A previous CBP facial recognition pilot was hacked, exposing images. CBP says the app is voluntary and data is secure.
- Company involved
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection
- AI system involved
- CBP One
8 source articles · read the reporting →
Judge rules lawsuit over UnitedHealth’s AI care denials can move forward - STAT
The system denied necessary medical care to Medicare Advantage beneficiaries.
- Company involved
- UnitedHealth Group
1 source article · read the reporting →
UNOS liver allocation policy reduces transplants in poorer states
The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) implemented a new liver allocation policy in 2020 called the acuity circles system, which prioritizes the sickest patients regardless of location. An analysis by The Markup and The Washington Post found that the policy led to sharp declines in liver transplants in several Southern and Midwestern states and Puerto Rico, while increasing transplants in New York and California. Patients in affected states allege the system disadvantages poorer regions, and hospitals have sued to overturn the policy.
- Company involved
- United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS)
- AI system involved
- Acuity circles liver allocation policy
10 source articles · read the reporting →
NHS plans AI to listen to appointments and generate notes
The UK's National Health Service announced plans to use AI to automatically generate notes from patient appointments. Health Secretary Victoria Atkins said the scheme would reduce admin time. Privacy campaigners raised concerns about data security and accuracy, citing an incident where AI misheard the chief medical officer's name. The Department of Health and Social Care stated that patient confidentiality remains a top priority.
- Company involved
- National Health Service (NHS)
3 source articles · read the reporting →
AEMPS withdraws AI medicines tool MeQA after detecting errors
AEMPS launched MeQA, an artificial intelligence tool for answering public questions about medicines, on 13 May 2025. Two days later it withdrew the tool after detecting that some responses contained errors. The agency said that most answers were correct but that the errors could affect patient safety, and that it would restore the service as soon as possible.
- Company involved
- Agencia Española de Medicamentos y Productos Sanitarios (AEMPS)
- AI system involved
- MeQA
4 source articles · read the reporting →
DWP algorithm approved Kickstart gateways with no trading history or based abroad
An FE Week investigation found that the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) approved dozens of companies as Kickstart gateways through automated due diligence checks using the Cabinet Office Spotlight Tool, although some had little or no trading history or were based abroad. The DWP said gateways were subject to stringent checks and later said human checks were also used. After the findings were shared with the Treasury and the DWP, the department stopped taking gateway applications and scrapped the requirement for small employers to use gateways from 3 February.
- Company involved
- Department for Work and Pensions
- AI system involved
- Cabinet Office Spotlight Tool
3 source articles · read the reporting →
