Startup Harrison.ai lays off Australian staff, pivots to US after $32m government investment
Health AI startup Harrison.ai is laying off Australian staff and pivoting toward a US-based teleradiology service, despite receiving $32 million in government funding to maintain operations in Australia. The move has raised concerns regarding potential conflicts of interest and the company's previous data usage practices.
Why it matters
The situation highlights the risks associated with government investment in private AI startups and the ethical complexities of medical data usage.
Harrison.ai makes AI tools used by doctors to help interpret radiology scans. ( YouTube: Harrison.ai )
A federal government-backed health AI startup has laid off Australian staff while launching a US venture hiring American clinicians who will be paid money to use its tools.
The company, Harrison.ai, received $32 million from the government last year so it could "continue to base its operations in Australia".
These changes have prompted staff to leave and raised concerns about how the company will manage what experts flagged as a potential conflict of interest that could affect patient care.
Link copied Share Share article An AI health startup is laying off staff and pivoting to a new US business model, a year after receiving a $32 million investment from the federal government to keep the company in Australia, the ABC can reveal.
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