AI Innovations in Mental Health: Intel® Liftoff Startups Lead the Way

It’s no secret: we are living through an unprecedented mental health crisis. Depression and suicidality are trending upwards, especially among younger people. Startup founders know all about this, of course. Innovation and creativity often come at a huge cost to mental wellbeing. But founders aren’t just experiencing the crisis. In true founder style, they’re actively trying to solve it.

We spoke to four of them (all Intel® Liftoff members) to find out how they’re using AI to make people’s inner lives healthier and more harmonious.

First: What Does AI Have To Do With Our Mental Health?

To put it bluntly, AI has contributed to this crisis. Digital overwhelm is a major driver of many of the mental health challenges we’re all grappling with to some extent, from anxiety to depression. Every notification or inbox alert is like another jolt to our nervous systems. We’re not (yet) fully adapted to handle this, and AI has definitely amped up the volume, because it’s made it that much easier for companies to create targeted content and push it into our view.

But AI is also going to be part of the solution. We all live in multiple digital interfaces, and we need a way to smooth out that chaos. We also need some mechanism that can alert us when we’re at risk, and give us some practical feedback in real time to help us rebalance.

Enterprising startup founders have begun to recognize that building these systems and mechanisms will take intelligent, efficient use of vast amounts of data. And that sounds like an ideal use case for AI.

Rosette Health: Digitizing Healthcare Conversations for Better Mental Wellness

Care delivery is a critical bottleneck in the US healthcare system, where shortages of medical personnel make it increasingly difficult to educate patients and coordinate treatment through human-led interaction. Rosette Health has built a unique AI-driven operating system for conversational healthcare that holds the promise of freeing up strained medical resources and giving patients the right resources when they need them most.

In particular, Rosette Health is taking aim at illnesses impacting women like perinatal depression (PD), the most prevalent childbearing-related illness in the US. 

Co-founder Gulin Yilmaz sees enormous potential for AI as a tool for preventative healthcare, a topic that her team at Rosette Health is actively pursuing with expert researchers in the field.

“We envision that AI technology integrated into the healthcare system in an evidence based, clinically informed manner is going to be disruptive in a positive way on the mental health outcomes for all. We believe in a future in which through integrating AI into people’s lives we will be able to maintain mental and prevent conditions before they disrupt a person’s life.”
– Gulin Yilmaz, Co-Founder at Rosette Health.

CerebraAI Optimizes Emergency Diagnostics and Mental Health Support

CerebraAI is a pioneer in using generative AI to fill the diagnostic gap between MRI and non-contrast CT scans for emergency medicine, particularly stroke detection. Their solution indirectly supports mental health by ensuring quick and accurate diagnostics. This commitment to overall well being is one that CerebraAI reflects in its culture as a company. They promote physical activities like marathons and yoga sessions among employees to boost mental health and team cohesion.

Business Development Leader Aigerim Seidualiyevaf is optimistic about the future of AI in shaping emergency medicine. But she also emphasizes the importance of proceeding with care.

“AI has the potential to greatly enhance mental health care by providing tailored support and early detection of issues, which can be life-changing. However, there are challenges too, such as potential over-reliance on technology and concerns around privacy. It’s crucial that we use AI wisely, ensuring it complements rather than replaces human interactions and maintaining strict safeguards on data security.”
– Aigerim Seidualiyevaf, Business Development Leader at Cerebra.AI.

Leveraging Epigenetics and AI to Combat Age-Related Mental Decline with EPIX.AI

EPIX.AI applies AI with epigenetic data to tackle age-related brain diseases and stress-induced mental illnesses. They are developing a mobile application that estimates the personal rate of biological ageing and decreases the risk of age-related diseases. By giving users a detailed picture of their health, the app helps to manage health anxiety, potentially alleviating mental health difficulties that arise from worrying about our wellbeing.

CEO Nikolay Vasev has a clear vision for the use of genAI technology to give people knowledge (and power) over their own health, and reducing the uncertainty that fuels health-related anxiety.

“By enabling users to monitor their progress, set achievable goals, and receive personalized feedback, AI fosters a sense of control over one’s health outcomes. This heightened sense of self-efficacy can contribute to improved mental well-being by promoting feelings of autonomy and dignity.”
– Nikolay Vasev, CEO at EPIX.AI.

Aleph Innovations: AI-Driven Care Coordination for More Mental Health Access

Before any treatment can even begin, care-providing institutions need efficient and reliable ways to connect patients with the right behavioral health resources. Aleph Innovations aims to make this easier with AI, streamlining healthcare service delivery by introducing patients directly to the right mental health providers. 

Their flagship model, Nexus, optimizes patient flow and improves access to care, both vital for timely mental health interventions. Aleph Innovations hopes to transform healthcare by ensuring that patients receive the appropriate care without unnecessary delays.

To support the mental health of their own staff, the company provides built-in time slots during working hours for exercise. To founder & CEO Daniel Tcheurekdjian, this is all part of a broader commitment to keeping people happier and healthier, with AI at its core:

“AI has enormous potential to improve access to and quality of care, and if used correctly, it can improve the lives of many. We think that tools like these have the potential to transform the landscape of healthcare for the better.”
– Daniel Tcheurekdjian, Founder and CEO at Aleph Innovations.

(Artificially) Intelligent Solutions to Human Problems: Intel® Liftoff Startups Forging New Paths for Mental Health Support

Creative minds are converging on the challenges of mental health, using AI to increase the range and quality of resources available to people in need. That vision is taking shape at Intel® Liftoff, where the world’s most ambitious AI startups get their head start.

Apply to the program today to move your startup forward and secure its place at the leading edge of AI innovation.