Politics · United States · 2 days ago
AI companies use private chat room to discuss health policy with Trump officials
The government invited major tech companies to discuss AI tools for health care in a private Slack chat.
The discussion included how apps could use patients’ medical information and potentially receive Medicare payments.
Legal experts said the group may resemble an advisory panel that should meet in public.
Doctors warn that the tools may not be reliable and that their risks and use of health data are not well understood.
Trump administration officials gave technology companies a private Slack channel to discuss federal health policy on artificial intelligence, according to KFF Health News.
In February, the FDA held a listening session on conversational AI for patients, attended by representatives of at least 35 industry organizations.
The meeting was not listed on the FDA’s public calendar or regulatory notices, and the public was not invited.
The administration has promoted wider use of AI health apps, including an initiative allowing apps to bill Medicare for some services.
Medical professionals have raised concerns about limited evidence, how the tools use patient information, and who is liable when they make mistakes.
- Who
- Trump administration health officials and technology companies, including Microsoft, Anthropic, OpenAI, Apple, and Google. Representatives of at least 35 industry organizations attended the FDA meeting.
- What
- Officials used a private Slack workspace to engage companies on AI in healthcare and held a listening session on conversational AI products for patients.
- When
- The effort has been underway for about a year. The listening session took place in February; the articles were published October 9, 2026.
- Where
- In a government-run Slack workspace and at a Food and Drug Administration listening session. The articles do not state the meeting’s physical location.
- Why
- The stated aim was to help the FDA shape future guidance on conversational AI and support the administration’s plans to integrate AI into healthcare.
Trump administration officials and technology companies
Medical professionals
Policy and use of AI
Trump administration officials and technology companies
Officials have promoted AI tools in healthcare and offered companies opportunities to engage with government on policy.
Medical professionals
The American Medical Association’s CEO said some tools are not ready for widespread use and called for more data and understanding of how they work.
Patient information and accountability
Trump administration officials and technology companies
Officials say apps can help people access medical records and provide health or wellness advice.
Medical professionals
John Whyte said it is unclear how tools use patient information and that there is no liability if they get things wrong.
This is a great opportunity to support HHS’ goals and share your state-of-the-art understanding of safe Conversational AI development and monitoring to help FDA shape future guidance
We wanted to give industry a chance to play in the sandbox of government-supported healthcare
much better informed than any doctor in the country
Some of these tools just aren’t ready for primetime
Technology and finance figures and Trump administration officials began charting a campaign to encourage use of AI tools in healthcare.
The FDA held a listening session on conversational AI products for patients, attended by representatives of at least 35 industry organizations.
Mehmet Oz publicly launched an initiative allowing health apps to bill Medicare for AI services such as wearable device tracking.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. endorsed AI in healthcare.
KFF Health News and CBS News published reports on the private Slack workspace and the industry’s access to officials.
- Industry attendance
- Representatives of at least 35 organizations attended the FDA listening session
- Companies invited
- Microsoft, Anthropic, OpenAI, Apple, and Google
- Communication platform
- Slack
- Medicare App Library
- Promoted two dozen commercial apps
- Published
- October 9, 2026
Sources
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