Nvidia and Johnson & Johnson announced a collaboration to develop AI technologies for use in surgical procedures. The partnership will focus on applying Nvidia’s Clara AI platform to develop AI models that can enhance surgical workflows and outcomes.
Nvidia’s Clara platform uses the company’s GPUs to accelerate the training and deployment of AI models for the healthcare industry. The AI models developed through the partnership will be designed to help surgeons gain insights and make decisions during complex surgeries. The companies said potential applications could include using AI to segment and track key anatomical structures during surgery, detect abnormalities, or predict outcomes.
Johnson & Johnson has been investing heavily in AI and robotic technologies for use in healthcare. The company recently acquired Auris Health, which developed robotic bronchoscopes and platforms for developing AI algorithms for diagnostic and therapeutic applications. Johnson & Johnson has also partnered with Verb Surgical, a joint venture between Verily and Ethicon, to develop digital surgery technologies.
Nvidia has similarly been expanding its presence in healthcare and life sciences. The company’s Clara platform now has over 70 partners developing AI tools for applications like radiology, pathology, genomics, and drug discovery. The partnership with Johnson & Johnson is Nvidia’s first major collaboration focused specifically on surgical AI.
The collaboration is the latest example of large healthcare and tech companies teaming up to pursue AI technologies. Combining Nvidia’s AI and high-performance computing expertise with Johnson & Johnson’s medical devices and healthcare industry experience could help accelerate the development of useful AI tools for surgeons. But the companies will have to ensure the technologies meet strict standards for safety and efficacy before being deployed in operating rooms.
The announcement of the partnership sent Nvidia’s stock price up 3% in midday trading. Investors are clearly excited about the prospects for AI in healthcare and Nvidia’s positioning in the market. If the Nvidia-Johnson & Johnson collaboration leads to advances that improve surgical outcomes, it could cement Nvidia’s role as a key player in medical AI.