Intro

When the right answer is a matter of life and death, how do you ensure that your AI systems avoid fatal mistakes? Signal 1 is a software platform for healthcare that functions as a control panel for deployed AI systems in hospitals. Rather than building individual models, Signal 1 focuses on improving the safety, observability and governability of pre-existing AI models used throughout the patient experience. The platform enables health systems to track real-world performance, detect drift and risk, enforce approval workflows, and tie AI predictions to improved clinical and operational outcomes.

Tomi Poutanen is Signal 1’s CEO and co-founder. His earlier start-up, Layer 6, employed artificial intelligence to provide financial services companies with predictive analytics, and was acquired by TD Bank, where Tomi served as chief AI officer. In this episode, Tomi works with the Derby Mill team to discuss the future of healthcare, whether machine learning could make hospitals obsolete, and how to improve the management of systems that include numerous different AI agents working together.  

GUESTS AND HOSTS

Tomi Poutanen, CEO, Signal 1

Ajay Agrawal, co-founder and partner, Intrepid Growth PartnersRichard Sutton, senior advisor, Intrepid Growth Partners, 2024 Turing Award recipient, pioneer of reinforcement learning and professor, University of AlbertaSendhil Mullainathan, senior advisor, Intrepid Growth Partners, MacArthur Genius grant recipient and professor, MITNiamh Gavin, senior advisor, Intrepid Growth Partners, Applied AI scientist and CEO, Emergent PlatformsSuzanne Gildert, CEO, Nirvanic Consciousness Technologies, quantum physicist, co-founder of Sanctuary AI and Kindred

LINKS    Signal 1 website

Media on Signal 1 from the Globe and Mail, Betakit and the University of Toronto

Derby Mill series website. Derby Mill is created by the team at Intrepid Growth Partners and produced by Ghost Bureau.

Be sure to catch every episode of The Derby Mill Series by subscribing on the following platforms: YouTube // Spotify // Apple Podcasts // Substack

DISCUSSION POINTS

00:00 Cold open

00:44 Ajay’s tee up

01:22 About Signal 1

04:11 Tomi’s Signal 1 explainer

06:25 Mechanics of Signal 1

07:10 Tomi’s first-order question

08:45 Signal 1’s core value prop

09:29 Patient experience perspective

12:27 Taking MD out of the loop

13:56 Why Signal 1 focuses on AI

18:20 Evaluating AI systems

22:46 Rows

23:13 Ajay’s segue

24:42 Part 2: Signal 1 at the Limit

25:12 Niamh’s sci-fi hospital vision

29:04 Rich questions the premise

31:25 Sendhil: Division of labor for AI

34:50 Tomi: Niamh’s vision is real

38:22 Tomi: Competitive healthcare

43:55 Sendhil: Virtues of randomness

49:44 Niamh: Multiple agent drama

52:54 Tomi’s final remarks

DISCLAIMER

The content of this podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as marketing, solicitation, or an offer to buy or sell any securities or investments. The opinions expressed in this video are those of the participants and do not necessarily reflect the views of Intrepid Growth Partners or its affiliates. Any discussion of specific companies, technologies, or industries is for illustrative purposes and does not constitute investment advice. Viewers are encouraged to consult with their own financial, legal, and tax advisors before making any investment decisions.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit insights.intrepidgp.com