OpenAI has introduced a small-scale preview of Voice Engine, a model capable of generating natural-sounding speech using text input and a 15-second audio sample, which mimics the original speaker's voice closely. Initially developed in late 2022, the Voice Engine has been integrated into OpenAI's text-to-speech API and ChatGPT Voice, emphasizing the cautious approach towards its broader release due to potential misuse. The article showcases various beneficial applications by trusted partners, including providing reading assistance, translating content in the original speaker's voice for global reach, improving service delivery in remote areas, and supporting non-verbal communication and speech recovery for individuals with disabilities or speech impairments. OpenAI is engaging with partners to ensure responsible use, including consent requirements, and exploring safety measures like watermarking and voice authentication to mitigate risks associated with synthetic voice technology. This reflects OpenAI's commitment to AI safety and responsible AI deployment while highlighting the need for societal resilience against the challenges posed by advanced generative models.

Navigating the Challenges and Opportunities of Synthetic Voices OpenAI

Mitchell Tang, Kaylee Wilson, and Ateev Mehrotra's article in Health Affairs Forefront, titled "Paying For AI In Healthcare: Setting The Right Precedent Amidst Growing Use," critically examines the challenges and considerations of incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) into healthcare payment systems. It highlights two AI services, fractional flow reserve computed tomography (FFR_CT) and autonomous diabetic retinopathy screening, which exemplify the complexities of reimbursing AI applications in healthcare. The authors point out the discrepancy between the current fee-for-service payment models, which are primarily cost-based, and the unique cost structures and value propositions of AI services. They argue for treating AI company fees as indirect rather than direct practice expenses to more accurately reflect their cost structure and encourage efficient AI pricing models. Additionally, the piece debates the necessity of compensating providers for the time spent analyzing AI results, suggesting that AI tools should ideally improve the efficiency of diagnosis and information synthesis without requiring separate payment for technology use. The authors caution against setting precedents with current AI billing practices that could stifle innovation or encourage overuse, advocating for a payment strategy that incentivizes the adoption of AI based on efficiency and quality improvements rather than direct reimbursement.

Paying For AI In Healthcare: Setting The Right Precedent Amidst Growing Use | Health Affairs Forefront Health Affairs

The article discusses the escalating issue of cybercriminals targeting the American healthcare industry, significantly disrupting operations by attacking large healthcare providers and insurers. It highlights a recent major cyberattack where the ransomware group ALPHV, also known as BlackCat, paralyzed Change Healthcare, a crucial subsidiary of UnitedHealth, causing an estimated loss of $1 billion a day to the healthcare system. The attack compromised insurance payments and patient services, demonstrating the acute need for the healthcare sector to adopt autonomous databases and operating systems to enhance cybersecurity defenses.

It’s Time to Hand Cybersecurity Over to the Computers The Wall Street Journal

In the wake of a significant cybersecurity breach at Change Healthcare, a major claims clearinghouse handling a substantial portion of U.S. medical and drug transaction claims, health policy expert Jeff Goldsmith proposes a transformative shift in how claims are managed and processed. Arguing against the efficiency of a singular, large-scale processor vulnerable to cyberattacks, Goldsmith advocates for the adoption of multiple Administrative Service Providers (ASPs) that would manage claims for both public and private payers, utilizing stringent security measures and standardized procedures. This system aims to enhance cyber-security, streamline claims processing, and pave the way for value-based competition among providers by fundamentally altering the provider-payer dynamic. Goldsmith's proposal also suggests a regional restructuring of healthcare competition, facilitated by impartial regional health authorities utilizing comprehensive performance data to promote informed choice among consumers and employers. This vision for a restructured claims processing landscape seeks not only to mitigate the risks associated with centralized claims handling but also to foster a more efficient, competitive, and value-focused healthcare system.

Processing Mismanagement: Responding to Change Healthcare’s Meltdown - 4sight Health 4sight Health