Can AI Be Trusted? Healthcare, Ethics, and Entrepreneurship | Anik Sahai

Interview Notes — Anik Sahai

• Describes himself as a “builder”
• Started with science fairs—skin cancer detector in 7th grade, diabetic retinopathy project using AI in 8th
• Comes from family of 13 doctors—dad is an orthopedic surgeon
• Saw how late/stressed his dad came home → wanted to automate some of the administrative work
• Started AI consulting firm in 9th grade
• Making his first dollar proved entrepreneurship was actually possible
• AI has lowered the barrier to starting companies—work that once required a technical team can now be done by one or two people
• Made money consulting but stepped back when school became harder to balance
• Still believes college can provide credibility, education, and a valuable network

Auth.ai

• Built specifically for orthopedic practices
• Focuses on prior authorization—the approval doctors need from insurance before patients receive treatment
• Prior authorization takes staff time, costs money, and delays patient care
• Insurance companies are already using AI to deny claims → he wants doctors to have AI working for them
• Auth.ai checks medical notes, codes, coverage requirements, and supporting information before submission
• Designed to fit into the doctor’s existing workflow instead of forcing them to change everything
• Major concerns: HIPAA, patient information, hallucinations, accuracy, and legal risk
• Product does not diagnose patients—it helps present the doctor’s information to insurers
• Being young made credibility difficult → used pilots, testimonials, competitions, previous experience, and professional presentation

AI and Ethics Lab

• Not completely pro-AI or anti-AI—believes it depends on how people use it
• Companies are moving quickly and prioritizing efficiency → could create serious consequences
• Students are using AI to cheat and becoming too dependent on it
• Concerned that critical-thinking skills are declining
• Created Ethics Lab to teach students AI literacy and responsible use
• Curriculum built with input from teachers and industry professionals
• Also developing Inky—teacher-monitored AI meant to help students learn without simply giving them answers
• Difficult questions around child safety, privacy, and whether student conversations should be used to improve the product
• Main goal of Ethics Lab is impact, not profit
• Plug: ethicslabs.ai

Advice for Young Founders

• Don’t start a company just because being a founder looks impressive online
• Only build if you understand the problem and have some type of competitive advantage
• Talk to potential customers before building anything
• Ask what their ideal solution would look like
• Build a basic version, test it, then improve it from real feedback
• Don’t spend forever trying to make the first version perfect
• People like announcing that they are founders because it gives them a dopamine rush before they have accomplished anything
• Real satisfaction comes from getting the first user or earning the first dollar
• Expect rejection—he has been rejected from grants, competitions, and other opportunities
• Persistence is probably the most important quality
• Starting a nonprofit can be good experience because it teaches leadership, organization, fundraising, and problem-solving
• Confidence matters, but it has to be supported by knowledge and actual work