Lifting the Curtain: Building Isaree
Dear readers,
As most of you know, I have been on a continuous journey to democratize medical AI. This journey started long before state-of-the-art research labs published their foundation models under open-source licenses. My drive to push for open-source policies was rooted in my beliefs that to progress humanity as a whole, one needs to promote reason, individualism, and intellectual curiosity and this can be best done on the principles of openness.
Throughout history, the power of human reason has improved society and challenged traditional authority. Individuals should be free to think for themselves and make decisions based on evidence and reason, independent of the institutions they work for. The emphasis on science, education, and critical thinking has laid the groundwork for many of the modern values and institutions we take for granted today.
The advancement of AI will shape our future more than any other technology before. It is a powerful tool for improved information access and should be looked at as a general-purpose technology, similar to the printing press. However, the healthcare industry has been regulatory captured, leading to life-saving knowledge being monopolized and controlled by a minority, resulting in excessive pricing and inequalities in health.
As I look back on my journey, I'm grateful for the incredible experiences and opportunities I've had. I've had the privilege of befriending Nobel laureates, receiving awards for my work, and being invited by the United Nations to attend the first global AI governance meetings. I've also had the honor of sharing my ideas with over 100,000 people through lectures and talks.
Although my journey with the Hippo AI Foundation was much less impactful and less successful than I anticipated, I feel part of a larger family of people who collaborate based on the shared vision of turning AI into a common infrastructure similar to the internet. Along the way, my learning journey was immense, and I was part of a larger collaborative ecosystem that not only broadened my understanding of the nature of human behavior, but also revealed to me the uncomfortable truth that many of those who proclaim to be working for the greater good often serve their own self-interest, a realization that has only strengthened my resolve to pursue a more open and equitable approach to AI.
In the past year, I've witnessed a seismic shift in the industry. Every startup, hospital, and medtech company I've engaged with has begun to adopt open-sourced AI models, marking a significant departure from the traditional reliance on BigTech. This newfound independence has been made possible by the emergence of a new technology that has democratized access to AI innovation. While the open-source landscape is still evolving, I firmly believe that AI models and data will soon become ubiquitous and interchangeable, paving the way for a future where AI is truly open and accessible to all.
Some might think I'm a dreamer, but I've been predicting that open-source AI will avoid a world of monopolized and dark closed AI since 2018. I also foresaw that investments in digital therapeutics within healthcare, or the development of closed-source AI startups, would likely lead to setbacks and unmet expectations. The longer I work in the tech industry, the better my predictions become. This is why, in 2025, I'm embarking on a new journey.
In recent months, I have been focused on a new venture that integrates my experiences, values, and vision for democratizing medical AI. I am excited to introduce Isaree GmbH, a company I co-founded in December alongside the brilliant Mandana Ahmadi. Mandana, a serial entrepreneur with a PhD in computational neuroscience, brings invaluable expertise and a diverse cultural perspective, enriching our shared mission.
We have secured initial funding and received overwhelmingly positive feedback from both clinicians and investors. If you share our vision of bringing medical AI innovations into the hands of every clinician, I would be delighted to connects. Isaree’s vision has been described as refreshing, groundbreaking, and ambitious—the exact kind of feedback we hoped for. While establishing our headquarters in Berlin presents unique challenges due to regulatory hurdles and a risk-averse culture, leaving Europe was never an option for me. I believe that ongoing political shifts in the U.S. will prompt Europe to reevaluate its policies and foster a more innovation-friendly environment. Moreover, European healthcare systems embody unique values that we aim to preserve and enhance through Isaree.
Over the next 12 months, we will remain in stealth mode, working closely with selected clients to refine our solutions and validate our approach. Isaree, is a name that embodies the spirit of freedom, our mission is to liberate clinicians from the constraints of limited access to AI innovation. By providing a gateway to a vast library of AI tools, we empower them to streamline their workflows, unlock new possibilities for patient care, and ultimately, redefine the future of healthcare. Through our open and collaborative approach, we strive to democratize AI's benefits, making them accessible to all, and fostering a more equitable and compassionate healthcare ecosystem.
As I embark on this new journey with Isaree, I want to take a moment to wish you all happy holidays and a joyful new year. I'm excited to share this new chapter with you, and I'll be sure to keep you informed about our progress and updates along the way. And don't worry, the Hippo AI Foundation will always hold a special place in my heart, and I'm exploring ways to integrate its spirit and mission into our new endeavors. I'm grateful for your continued support and look forward to staying in touch.
Together, we can shape a more equitable future for medical AI.
With hope and determination,
Bart