AI-driven medical assistants and scribes, designed to streamline the administrative work for doctors, have gained significant momentum in the healthcare sector over the past year. These tools allow healthcare providers to spend less time on tasks like note-taking and updating medical records. Now, established companies are taking note and looking to enter the space.
Zoom, the video-conferencing giant, announced a new partnership with Suki, a leading AI medical scribe provider, to offer its healthcare users an AI-powered tool for taking notes during virtual consultations. Zoom is a dominant platform for telehealth in the U.S., facilitating around 36% of all virtual healthcare visits, according to a report by Definitive Healthcare.
Punit Soni, Suki’s founder and CEO, revealed that Zoom evaluated several AI medical scribe startups before selecting Suki. Earlier this month, Suki raised $70 million in a Series D funding round, positioning it well for this new collaboration.
Zoom’s CEO, Eric Yuan, shared that the company is shifting its focus from video conferencing to offering AI tools that enhance workplace productivity, including healthcare solutions.
Amazon-owned One Medical is also embracing AI, integrating tools to assist clinicians with administrative tasks. Rather than collaborating with external startups, One Medical is utilizing Amazon's Bedrock and AWS HealthScribe platforms for AI-powered note-taking.
Healthcare providers—both large hospital systems and smaller practices—are finding that AI-driven solutions can significantly reduce the time spent on documentation. Many companies in this field have seen rapid revenue growth as more practices adopt these tools.
In addition to Suki, several other AI startups are making strides in the medical note-taking sector. Companies like Abridge, Nabla, and Ambiance Healthcare are gaining traction, with Abridge reportedly raising $250 million at a $2.5 billion valuation. Microsoft’s Nuance is another key player in this competitive market.
Despite the crowded field, investors believe there is still enough differentiation among these startups. For instance, Abridge focuses on large medical systems, while others cater to smaller practices. As AI continues to reshape administrative workflows in healthcare, partnerships like Zoom and Suki's highlight the growing importance of technology in improving efficiency for medical professionals.
