All videos
0:00 / 0:00
ai

AI in Healthcare Series: Have We Already Bent the Healthcare Cost Curve?

Stanford Online30 September 2026Watch on YouTube

What you'll learn

  • Eric Larsen joins Matt Lungren and Justin Norden to explore whether AI has already begun to bend the U.S. healthcare cost curve.
  • The episode unpacks a controversial paper on autonomous AI exceeding physicians.
  • The discussion covers how far and how fast AI will displace prestige professions.
  • GLP-1s and site-of-care shifts are discussed as part of the cost curve conversation.
  • A cost-curve paper suggesting nearly $1T in unexpected savings raises the question of whether incumbent health systems can adapt in time.

Frequently asked questions

Who are the guest and hosts in this episode about the healthcare cost curve?
Matt Lungren and Justin Norden of Stanford speak with Eric Larsen, President at TowerBrook Advisors and venture partner at Thrive Capital and SignalFire.
Which topics are covered in the episode?
The episode covers a controversial paper on autonomous AI exceeding physicians, how far AI will displace prestige professions, GLP-1s, site-of-care shifts, and a paper suggesting nearly $1T in unexpected savings.
What central question drives the conversation about the cost curve?
The central question is whether AI has already begun to bend the U.S. healthcare cost curve, and what happens when medical expertise becomes abundant.
Why do the hosts call this possibly healthcare's Oppenheimer moment?
They link this moment to the rise of autonomous AI that could exceed physicians and to the question of whether incumbent health systems can adapt in time.

Topics

In this video

Read next

Description from the channel

Learn more about Stanford's online Healthcare AI programs: https://stanford.io/3NEt7uE Check out the AI in Healthcare series playlist:https://stanford.io/3NEt7uE Matt Lungren, Stanford University - https://profiles.stanford.edu/matthew-lungren Justin Norden, Stanford University - https://profiles.stanford.edu/justin-norden Guest speaker: Eric Larsen, President, TowerBrook Advisors; venture partner, Thrive Capital and SignalFire In this episode of the Stanford Healthcare AI Podcast, Justin and Matt sit down with Eric Larsen, President at TowerBrook Advisors and venture partner at Thrive Capital and SignalFire, to explore whether AI has already begun to bend the U.S. healthcare cost curve, and why this may be healthcare’s Oppenheimer moment. They unpack a controversial paper on autonomous AI exceeding physicians, debate how far and how fast AI will displace “prestige professions,” and discuss GLP‑1s, site‑of‑care shifts, and a cost-curve paper that suggests nearly $1T in unexpected savings. They ask: What happens when medical expertise becomes abundant and can incumbent health systems adapt in time?