Harrison.ai Addresses Privacy Concerns Amid US Expansion

The chief executive of healthcare technology firm Harrison.ai has addressed privacy concerns related to his company, referring to them as a misunderstanding as they prepare for expansion into the US market.

Harrison.ai provides artificial intelligence technology for radiologists and pathologists, enabling them to scan X-rays more accurately and efficiently for diseases like cancer. Based in Sydney, the start-up has successfully raised over $150 million in funding and aims to save a million lives daily by 2025.

Privacy Controversy with I-MED

According to reports by the online publication Crikey, Harrison.ai allegedly trained its flagship product, Annalise.ai, using medical scans from potentially hundreds of thousands of Australians sourced from I-MED without clear patient consent.

In response, Aengus Tran, who co-founded Harrison.ai with his brother Dimitry, stated that concerns surrounding privacy are based on misunderstandings. He clarified that the company’s process of using patient data involves comprehensive anonymization, ensuring that data cannot be re-identified.

“People may assume we are dealing with personal data,” Tran explained. “However, a chest X-ray that has been thoroughly anonymized is not the same as someone's facial image. We have established a robust data protection process that completely removes any personal details, aligning with the Privacy Act’s requirements.”

I-MED’s Position

I-MED has also issued a statement labeling the allegations as inaccurate, claiming it applies best practice strategies developed by the CSIRO and the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner for de-identifying data.

Concern over how AI technologies handle customer privacy has intensified following a ruling by Australia's privacy commissioner, Carly Kind, which found retailer Bunnings in violation of privacy laws due to its use of facial recognition technology.

Currently, the Privacy Commissioner has commenced a preliminary inquiry into whether I-MED complied with privacy regulations regarding its partnership with Harrison.ai. A spokesperson for the office noted that the inquiry is still in process and emphasizes that de-identification is context-sensitive and complex.

Global Market Expansion

Aengus Tran shared that Harrison.ai's technology is now utilized in 131 hospitals in the UK and is adopted by 50% of radiologists in Australia. With a remarkable growth rate of 300% year-on-year, Tran believes that the time is right for the company to penetrate the US market.

“We have been awaiting the right moment to expand,” he remarked. “That opportunity has now arrived.” In October, the company received Medicare reimbursement approval from the US federal agency CMS, allowing US hospitals to charge up to $240 for scans processed through its technology.

Tran emphasized the significance of the US market, which represents around half of the global radiology volume. His brother Dimitry, who serves as the deputy CEO, has relocated to Seattle to help establish their presence in the US.

Looking Ahead

As Harrison.ai moves forward, Aengus anticipates significant capital raising efforts in 2025, perhaps exceeding $100 million. The company has previously secured $29 million in late 2019, followed by another $129 million two years later. Among its investors are prominent firms such as Blackbird Ventures and Sonic Healthcare, along with Tesla chair Robyn Denholm sitting on the board.

Next year, Harrison.ai plans to launch AI technology specifically for pathology, a result of its collaboration with Sonic Healthcare. The company aims to complete its AI portfolio covering various diagnostic areas.

“We are excited about the future as we have a solid foundation,” said Tran. “Our goal is to enhance our offerings in radiology and expand our innovations further.”

healthcare, technology, privacy, AI, expansion