AI healthcare is booming, and Anthropic is also "getting involved."

Following OpenAI's launch of healthcare products last week, AI startup Anthropic has quickly entered the medical field.

According to a report by Bloomberg on Monday, the company, valued at $350 billion, announced on Sunday the launch of HIPAA-compliant Claude medical services, available for hospitals, healthcare institutions, and consumers to handle protected health data, highlighting the fierce competition among Silicon Valley tech giants for this lucrative market.

The medical features launched by Anthropic include integration of scientific databases, enhanced biological research capabilities, and allowing users to export health data from applications such as Apple Health and Function Health. The company has committed not to use medical user data to train models, with medical responses citing authoritative publications such as PubMed and the NPI Registry.

A few days ago, competitor OpenAI just released ChatGPT Health, allowing users to securely connect medical records and health applications. OpenAI data shows that over 230 million people consult health issues on its platform weekly, highlighting the enormous demand in the healthcare market. The consecutive releases from both companies reflect AI firms' eagerness to establish a foothold in the medical field to boost sales and demonstrate the broad value of AI.

This sector is highly competitive, with Anthropic facing not only direct competition from OpenAI but also needing to compete with traditional tech suppliers and emerging startups focused on drug discovery, medical documentation, and patient record analysis.

Product Positioning: Empowerment Rather Than Replacement

Anthropic's Chief Product Officer and Instagram co-founder Mike Krieger stated that the healthcare sector is one of the economic areas where AI can have the greatest impact, provided that the right regulatory and data measures are taken. The new tools aim to "empower people with more knowledge, both from their data and from conversations with healthcare providers."

OpenAI's ChatGPT Health similarly emphasizes an assistive positioning; this product is not intended for diagnosis and treatment and cannot replace medical care, but rather helps users manage everyday health issues by integrating users' own health information to make responses more relevant.

Early Customer Success

Anthropic has made initial progress in healthcare institutions. According to the company, one of the largest nonprofit healthcare systems in the U.S., Banner Health, has over 22,000 clinical healthcare providers using Claude, with 85% reporting faster work speeds and higher accuracy. The company has also collaborated with clients such as Novo Nordisk and Stanford Healthcare.

Founded in 2021 by former OpenAI employees, Anthropic positions itself as a reliable and safety-focused AI developer. Its software is particularly popular among engineers automating coding processes. The company's CEO, Dario Amodei, has a background in biophysics, providing a professional foundation for its entry into the healthcare field

Privacy and Security Challenges

The handling of sensitive personal data by AI and its provision of advice for high-risk health matters have introduced new privacy and security risks. Anthropic emphasizes that its medical responses are accompanied by citations from authoritative publications such as PubMed and the NPI Registry, ensuring that clinicians have greater confidence in the results. The company has made a clear commitment not to use medical user data to train its models.

According to media reports, Anthropic is currently in financing negotiations with a valuation of $350 billion. Its layout in the healthcare sector will become a key battleground for this AI startup to prove its commercial value and the broad applicability of its technology