Latest news with #Stanford-led
Express Tribune
12-07-2025
- Health
- Express Tribune
Stanford study warns AI chatbots fall short on mental health support
The study also found commercial mental health chatbots, like those from and 7cups, performed worse than base models and lacked regulatory oversight, despite being used by millions. PHOTO: PEXELS Listen to article AI chatbots like ChatGPT are being widely used for mental health support, but a new Stanford-led study warns that these tools often fail to meet basic therapeutic standards and could put vulnerable users at risk. The research, presented at June's ACM Conference on Fairness, Accountability, and Transparency, found that popular AI models—including OpenAI's GPT-4o—can validate harmful delusions, miss warning signs of suicidal intent, and show bias against people with schizophrenia or alcohol dependence. In one test, GPT-4o listed tall bridges in New York for a person who had just lost their job, ignoring the possible suicidal context. In another, it engaged with users' delusions instead of challenging them, breaching crisis intervention guidelines. Read More: Is Hollywood warming to AI? The study also found commercial mental health chatbots, like those from and 7cups, performed worse than base models and lacked regulatory oversight, despite being used by millions. Researchers reviewed therapeutic standards from global health bodies and created 17 criteria to assess chatbot responses. They concluded that AI models, even the most advanced, often fell short and demonstrated 'sycophancy'—a tendency to validate user input regardless of accuracy or danger. Media reports have already linked chatbot validation to dangerous real-world outcomes, including one fatal police shooting involving a man with schizophrenia and another case of suicide after a chatbot encouraged conspiracy beliefs. Also Read: Grok AI coming to Tesla cars soon, confirms Elon Musk However, the study's authors caution against viewing AI therapy in black-and-white terms. They acknowledged potential benefits, particularly in support roles such as journaling, intake surveys, or training tools—with a human therapist still involved. Lead author Jared Moore and co-author Nick Haber stressed the need for stricter safety guardrails and more thoughtful deployment, warning that a chatbot trained to please can't always provide the reality check therapy demands. As AI mental health tools continue to expand without oversight, researchers say the risks are too great to ignore. The technology may help—but only if used wisely.
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Databricks, Perplexity co-founder pledges $100M on new fund for AI researchers
Andy Konwinski, computer scientist and co-founder of Databricks and Perpelexity, announced on Monday that his personal company, Laude, is forming a new AI research institute backed with a $100 million pledge of his own money. Laude Institute is less an AI research lab and more like a fund looking to make investments structured similar to grants. In addition to Konwinski, the institute's board includes UC Berkeley professor Dave Patterson (known for a string of award-winning research), Jeff Dean (known as Google's chief scientist), and Joelle Pineau (Meta's vice president of AI Research). Konwinski announced the institute's first and 'flagship' grant of $3 million a year for five years, and it will anchor the new AI Systems Lab at UC Berkeley. This is a new lab led by one of Berkeley's famed, Ion Stoica, current director of the Sky Computing Lab. Stoica is also a co-founder of startup Anyscale (an AI and python platform) and AI big data company Databricks, both from tech developed in Berkeley's lab system. The new AI Systems Lab is set to open in 2027 and, in addition to Stoica, will include a number of other well-known researchers. In his blog post announcing the institute, Konwinski described its mission as 'built by and for computer science researchers … We exist to catalyze work that doesn't just push the field forward but guides it towards more beneficial outcomes.' That's not necessarily a direct dig at OpenAI, which started out as an AI research facility and is now, arguably, consumed by its enormous commercial side. But other researchers have fallen prey to the lure of money as well. For instance, popular AI researcher Epoch faced controversy when it revealed that OpenAI supported the creation of one of its AI benchmarks that was then used to unveil its new o3 model. Epoch's founder also launched a startup with a controversial mission to replace all human workers everywhere with AI agents. Like other AI research organizations with commercial ambitions, Konwinski has structured his institute across boundaries: as a nonprofit with a public benefit corporation operating arm. He's dividing his research investments into two buckets that he calls 'Slingshots and Moonshots.' Slingshots are for early-stage research that can benefit from grants and hands-on help. Moonshots are, as the name implies, for 'long-horizon labs tackling species-level challenges like AI for scientific discovery, civic discourse, healthcare, and workforce reskilling.' His lab has, for instance, collaborated with 'terminal-bench,' a Stanford-led benchmark for how well AI agents handle tasks, used by Anthropic. One thing to note, Konwinski's company Laude isn't solely a grant-writing research institute. He also co-founded a for-profit venture fund launched in 2024. The fund's co-founder is former NEA VC Pete Sonsini. As TechCrunch previously reported, Laude led a $12 million investment in AI agent infrastructure startup Arcade. It has quietly backed other startups, too. A Laude spokesperson tells us that while Konwinski has pledged $100 million, he's also looking for, and open to, investment from other successful technologists. As to how Konwinski amassed a fortune enough to guarantee $100 million for this new endeavor: Databricks closed a $15.3 billion funding round in January that valued the company at $62 billion. Perplexity last month secured a $14 billion valuation, too. Does the world really need yet another AI 'good for humanity' research or with a murky nonprofit/commercial structure? No, and yes. AI research has become increasingly muddled. For instance, AI benchmarks designed to prove that a particular vendor's model works best have become plentiful these days. (Even Salesforce has its own LLM benchmark for CRMs.) An alliance that includes the likes of Konwinski, Dean, and Stoica supporting truly independent research that could one day turn into independent and human-helpful commerce could be an attractive alternative.
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Largest Sarcoma Study to Date with ctDNA Analysis Demonstrates Excellent Performance for Signatera
Stanford-led study included over 2,100 Signatera samples from over 200 sarcoma patients, with overall sensitivity of 89% and specificity of 100% Leiomyosarcoma, the most common subtype in the cohort, demonstrated sensitivity of 93% and specificity of 100% AUSTIN, Texas, May 05, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Natera, Inc. (NASDAQ: NTRA), a global leader in cell-free DNA and precision medicine, today announced the results of a study led by Stanford University School of Medicine for the evaluation of Signatera, Natera's personalized molecular residual disease (MRD) test, in patients with soft tissue and bone sarcomas. Results of the study (Utilizing Circulating Tumor DNA to Monitor Sarcoma Treatment and Recurrence) were presented at the 2025 Society of Surgical Oncology (SSO) Annual Meeting in March. With evaluation of approximately 200 patients and more than 2,100 plasma samples across multiple distinct subtypes, this is the largest sarcoma cohort to date using personalized circulating-tumor DNA (ctDNA) monitoring. The study assessed the correlation of Signatera results with imaging, stratified by sarcoma subtype, and followed patients through treatment, disease progression, and surveillance. Key findings included: The results demonstrated excellent test performance, with overall sensitivity to recurrence of 89% and specificity of 100%. In leiomyosarcoma, the most common subtype in the cohort, sensitivity was 93%, with specificity of 100%. For leiomyosarcoma patients who experienced progression, ctDNA kinetics during subsequent therapy were highly correlated with treatment response (90%). Sarcomas are a heterogeneous group of rare cancers, with more than 70 distinct histologic subtypes1, making treatment response and recurrence especially difficult to monitor through standard imaging and clinical evaluation. There are approximately 17,000 new cases of sarcoma diagnosed annually in the United States.2 "This data represents a major step forward in understanding how ctDNA monitoring can be applied across a diverse range of sarcoma subtypes," said Beatrice J. Sun, M.D., department of surgery at Stanford University. "With the ability to noninvasively detect disease recurrence and monitor treatment response, Signatera demonstrates the potential to meaningfully improve personalized care for patients with sarcoma." "This is the most comprehensive dataset to date on ctDNA monitoring in sarcoma, and it shows excellent performance of Signatera in a difficult-to-monitor cancer," said Alexey Aleshin, M.D., corporate chief medical officer and general manager of oncology at Natera. "The heterogeneity of sarcoma demands a personalized approach, and these results support Signatera's unique ability to track disease status with precision across a broad spectrum of subtypes." This retrospective real-world study demonstrates the promise of Signatera as a tool to monitor disease recurrence and treatment response. To build on these findings, the team intends to launch a prospective study to further demonstrate Signatera's clinical utility and explore its role in informing treatment decisions and improving future sarcoma care. About Signatera Signatera is a personalized, tumor-informed, molecular residual disease test for patients previously diagnosed with cancer. Custom-built for each individual, Signatera uses circulating tumor DNA to detect and quantify cancer left in the body, identify recurrence earlier than standard of care tools, and help optimize treatment decisions. The test is available for clinical and research use and has coverage by Medicare across a broad range of indications. Signatera has been clinically validated across multiple cancer types and indications, with published evidence in more than 100 peer-reviewed papers. About Natera Natera™ is a global leader in cell-free DNA and genetic testing, dedicated to oncology, women's health, and organ health. We aim to make personalized genetic testing and diagnostics part of the standard-of-care to protect health and inform earlier, more targeted interventions that help lead to longer, healthier lives. Natera's tests are supported by more than 250 peer-reviewed publications that demonstrate excellent performance. Natera operates ISO 13485-certified and CAP-accredited laboratories certified under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) in Austin, Texas, and San Carlos, California. For more information, visit Forward-Looking Statements All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this press release are forward-looking statements and are not a representation that Natera's plans, estimates, or expectations will be achieved. These forward-looking statements represent Natera's expectations as of the date of this press release, and Natera disclaims any obligation to update the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially, including with respect to whether the results of clinical or other studies will support the use of our product offerings, the impact of results of such studies, our expectations of the reliability, accuracy, and performance of our tests, or of the benefits of our tests and product offerings to patients, providers, and payers. Additional risks and uncertainties are discussed in greater detail in "Risk Factors" in Natera's recent filings on Forms 10-K and 10-Q, and in other filings Natera makes with the SEC from time to time. These documents are available at and References Moffitt Cancer Center. What Are the Different Types of Sarcoma? Moffitt Cancer Center, Accessed March 31, 2025. Sarcoma Alliance. (n.d.). What is sarcoma? Sarcoma Alliance. Retrieved April 28, 2025, from View source version on Contacts Investor Relations: Mike Brophy, CFO, Natera, Inc., investor@ Media: Lesley Bogdanow, VP of Corporate Communications, Natera, Inc., pr@ Sign in to access your portfolio
Daily Mail
25-04-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Elevated cancer risk traced back to popular appliance found in millions of American homes
Scientists have revealed that a kitchen appliance found in millions of American homes raises cancer risk, especially for children. A new study found that gas stove emissions result in a significantly increased cancer risk that is up to 16 times greater for kids than adults. The Stanford-led team investigated the health impacts of the top five percent highest benzene-emitting gas stoves, which are used by 6.3million Americans. Benzene is a known carcinogen that has been linked to multiple types of cancer, particularly leukemia. The World Health Organization (WHO) states that there is no safe level of long-term exposure to benzene. These stoves emit benzene gas as they burn propane or natural gas. When inhaled, this toxic chemical causes changes to cellular function that can result in cancer and other health issues. The team looked at benzene exposure in types of homes, finding apartments had the highest cancer risk, followed by attached homes, manufactured homes and then detached homes when there was high stove use and no ventilation. According to the researchers, in non-ventilated apartments with high gas stove use, up to 16 out of every one million children could develop cancer from long-term benzene exposure. For adults living in the same conditions, the risk is also significant, with up to eight out of every one million potentially developing cancer. This is well above the WHO's safety limit for the carcinogenic effect of benzene, set at one case per one million people, which suggests these stoves may be driving a public health crisis. Based on the fact that 6.3 million people in the US may be exposed to elevated benzene from gas stoves, the researchers estimate there could be 16 to 69 extra leukemia cases per year. The team defined medium usage as using one burner in the morning and two in the evening for 30 minutes each, without the oven, reflecting typical daily cooking. High usage involved more intense cooking: two burners in the morning, four in the evening (41 minutes each), plus oven use at 350°F for over two hours. The researchers used past studies to estimate how much benzene is released during low, medium, and high cooking scenarios, then modeled exposure levels across different types of homes and ventilation scenarios. By analyzing all these factors, the team determined how much benzene people who use these stoves are breathing in, depending on the room they're in, how long they stay there and how often they cook. The researchers found that in non-ventilated settings with high stove use, benzene levels in kitchens peaked between 1.7 and 3.35 parts per billion (ppb), which is well above California's safety limit of 1 ppb. But this toxic pollutant isn't just found in kitchens. After one to two hours of cooking, the researchers found that it wafts into other parts of the home too, including bedrooms. This is particularly dangerous due to the amount of time people spend in bedrooms. Apartments, especially small ones, had the highest bedroom concentrations at 3.3 ppb, but other housing types showed alarmingly high levels too, all of which were above the 1 ppb safety limit. Proper ventilation significantly reduced these exposure levels. Using a high-efficiency stove hood reduced daily kitchen benzene levels by 0.21 ppb on average, and keeping all windows open throughout the day cut levels by up to 99 percent. Even having windows open for just a few hours per day reduced benzene exposure by up to 42 percent. Under low or medium stove use most homes stayed below the 1 ppb threshold, even without sufficient ventilation. Based on these exposure levels, the researchers calculated the cancer risks for both adults (aged 18 to 65) and children (aged one to 17). The researchers found that ventilation reduced, but did not eliminate, cancer risk. Only the extreme case of keeping windows open all day brought risks close to acceptable levels. Based on these findings, the team estimated 16 to 69 excess cases cased of leukemia per year among Americans who have these stoves and fall into the 'high-use' category. What's more, these cases are mostly among children. For those who fall into the 'medium-use' category, they estimate an excess 10 cases per year. Although these numbers are based on estimates rather than actual case data, they point to a significantly elevated health risk for gas stove users, especially for kids. 'Overall, this study underscores the importance of effective ventilation and highlights the need for policies and strategies to mitigate benzene exposure from gas stoves, particularly for vulnerable populations such as children,' the researchers concluded.
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Low vaccination rates could cause measles endemic, experts warn
Health experts warn if kids don't get their measles shots, we may start to see millions of cases across the country. That's according to a new Stanford-led study. Falling vaccination rates could cause an endemic in 25 years, experts said, which means the virus would spread quickly – putting millions of lives in danger. ALSO READ: Tracking bracelet helps locate missing people with mental health challenges 'I believe vaccines save lives, and any child who dies from a vaccine preventable disease is a tragedy,' said Food and Drug Administration commissioner, Dr. Marty Makary. Tennessee health officials confirmed a measles outbreak on Thursday, The Associated Press reports, bringing the number of U.S. states with outbreaks to 10. The AP's Devi Shastri said just a week ago, the U.S. was up to 800 cases of measles nationwide. Texas has more than 600 known cases with the outbreak in the western part of the state approaches the three-month mark. Two unvaccinated elementary school-aged children died from measles-related illnesses in the epicenter in West Texas, The AP reports, and an adult in New Mexico who was not vaccinated died of a measles-related illness. According to The AP, other states with active outbreaks — defined as three or more cases — include Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Montana, Oklahoma, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New Mexico. The U.S. has more than doubled the number of measles cases it saw in all of 2024, Shastri said. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends children get their first dose of the measles vaccine when they're 12- to 15-months old. Then they should get the second between ages four and six. That gives an estimated 97 percent immunity from the disease. The Associated Press contributed to this story. WATCH BELOW: Mecklenburg County ABC stores now carry kits with lifesaving drug
