Dr. Nick van Terheyden aka Dr. Nick
Host of News You Can Use
LinkedIn: Nick van Terheyden, MD
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In this week’s special edition of “News You Can Use” on Healthcare NOW Radio I sat down with Dinakar Munagala, CEO of Blaize, to explore the company’s remarkable journey from a garage startup to a NASDAQ-listed pioneer in Edge AI.
Listen to the Conversation
Dinakar shares his background in chip design at Intel, where he contributed to graphics processors for Apple and Intel laptops, before co-founding Blaize. He explained that Blaize emerged from a realization that traditional GPUs were ill-suited for new AI workloads, especially those outside the data center. This led to a new kind of processor architecture, designed specifically for real-time, low-power AI applications in the physical world.
One of Blaize’s key differentiators lies in its focus on edge processing, bringing AI directly to devices like smart cameras, autonomous vehicles, and medical equipment, where decisions must be made in real time. This creates its own set of technical and logistical challenges that set edge AI apart from data center AI, and it is their approach to this that sets them apart in the AI space, using efficient chips and intuitive software, making advanced AI capabilities accessible without requiring deep technical knowledge.
We dive into compelling real-world applications, particularly in healthcare, where Blaze’s technology has been used to detect COVID-19 via X-ray scans, monitor retina images for early cancer detection, and support elder care by alerting staff to patient falls or abuse.
Most of all it is their design focused on augmentation, not replacement of humans, addressing both utility and liability concerns. As AI continues to permeate every aspect of life, expect to see Edge AI playing a central role in delivering scalable, secure, and impactful solutions right where they’re needed most.
Until next week keep solving healthcare’s mysteries before they become your emergencies.
This article was originally published on the Dr. Nick – The Incrementalist blog and is republished here with permission.
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News You Can Use gives you a quick insight into the latest news, twists, turns and debacles going on in healthcare with Dr. Nick and Dr. Craig and where every diagnosis comes with a side of side-splitting humor. Your hosts are Dr Nick a long-time host, innovator and healthcare wizard who can prescribe a digital dose of innovation to cure even the most ailing operational inefficiencies. And Dr. Craig Joseph is the healthcare guru who can diagnose both patient and software glitches with equal precision, making sure hospitals run smoother than a well-oiled robot doc.
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