Podcast Summary: The Last Invention is AI

Episode: Demand for AI Health Services Spikes After Function Health Raise
Date: November 21, 2025
Host: The Last Invention is AI

Overview

In this episode, the host dives deep into the explosive growth and funding of Function Health, a company at the forefront of AI-driven health services. Central themes include the shifting landscape of personalized medicine, the surge in investor interest, how Function Health differentiates itself in a crowded field, privacy concerns, and the broader implications for healthcare AI. The episode highlights both opportunities and challenges as AI continues to revolutionize the way health data is managed and used.

Key Discussion Points

1. The Opportunity in AI and Healthcare

• The host expresses strong enthusiasm for AI’s transformative impact on healthcare, underlining the potential to reduce costs, accelerate drug discovery, and free up doctors’ time:
  • “AI enables so much in healthcare and I’m really excited about that.” (00:29)
• The growing accumulation of personal health data (wearables, lab tests, EHRs) presents a massive but underutilized resource.

2. Function Health’s Vision and Milestones

• Function Health recently completed a massive $298M Series B round at a $2.5B valuation.
  • Backers include Redpoint Ventures, a16z, NBA athletes (Alan Crabb, Blake Griffin, Taylor Griffin), Daniel Gross, Anthony Wood (Roku founder), and Nat Friedman.
  • “Total, they’ve raised $350 million. This company is well funded and they’re taking on an ambitious era.” (02:40)
• The company aims to consolidate disparate health data sources and provide actionable insights through AI, moving beyond one-off results to holistic health management.

3. Medical Intelligence Lab – Function’s AI Platform

• Unveiled as a core product: a generative AI model providing personalized insights fed by the user’s own health metrics and medical history.
  • The AI chatbot can answer health questions, referencing past labs and doctor’s notes for tailored advice.
• Unique selling point: the model is trained by medical doctors, not just on generic internet data.
• CEO Jonathan Swerlin’s mission statement:
  • “It’s not good enough to be in a world where AI exists and not be applying it to your health… You should be able to manage your biology. The objective of Function Health is to apply the best available technology to human health.” (06:06)

4. Privacy, Security, and Patient Skepticism

• The host acknowledges public wariness about health tech, referencing Theranos and major DNA-test data leaks like 23andMe.
• Function Health emphasizes data encryption, HIPAA compliance, and never selling users’ personal data.
  • Quote from Jonathan Swerlin: “Your data and your identity are never for sale. Every bit of your information is fully encrypted and protected. We are committed to keeping you and your data safe.” (06:48)
• The host adds a note of realism:
  • “Even if they're like, well, it’s encrypted and it’s HIPAA compliant and all this kind of stuff… a lot of people have a bad taste in their mouth left over from companies like 23andMe.” (07:30)

5. How Function Health Stands Out

• Doctor-driven, high-quality data as a “moat” against competitors.
• Device-agnostic approach: integrates data from wearables, labs, and other platforms, unlike companies tethered to a single hardware ecosystem.
  • “It’s not like you have to have their one specific piece of hardware in order to track all of your information. You can get it from other places.” (10:05)
• Comparison to market rivals (Superpower, NICO Health, Inside Tracker).
• Testing reach: 2,000 Quest labs and over 50 million lab tests since 2023.
  • “Apparently they’ve completed more than 50 million lab tests since 2023, which is really impressive.” (11:29)

6. Real-Life Use and Broader Impacts

• The host shares a personal anecdote about using ChatGPT for a minor health question, illustrating the demand for more deeply personalized, data-driven AI health tools:
  • “Think of how amazing it would be if, beyond just talking to ChatGPT…there was an AI model that literally knew all of your health metrics. It would give you way more tailored results.” (05:05)
• Emphasizes societal hunger for AI services that address serious as well as day-to-day health needs.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “AI enables so much in healthcare and I’m really excited about that.” — Host (00:29)
• “Total, they’ve raised $350 million. This company is well funded and they’re taking on an ambitious era.” — Host (02:40)
• “It’s not good enough to be in a world where AI exists and not be applying it to your health… You should be able to manage your biology.” — Jonathan Swerlin, CEO, via the host (06:06)
• “Your data and your identity are never for sale. Every bit of your information is fully encrypted and protected.” — Jonathan Swerlin, CEO, via the host (06:48)
• “Even if they're like, well, it’s encrypted and it’s HIPAA compliant and all this kind of stuff… a lot of people have a bad taste in their mouth left over from companies like 23andMe.” — Host (07:30)
• “It’s not like you have to have their one specific piece of hardware…You can get it from other places.” — Host (10:05)
• “Apparently they’ve completed more than 50 million lab tests since 2023, which is really impressive.” — Host (11:29)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Introduction & The Promise of AI in Healthcare: 00:29–02:30
• Function Health Funding Details & Investor Overview: 02:30–03:40
• Function Health’s Vision & Medical Intelligence Lab: 03:40–06:48
• Security, Privacy & Public Skepticism: 06:48–08:05
• Doctor-Led Model Training & Competitive Landscape: 08:05–10:45
• Device-Agnostic Strategy & Market Reach: 10:05–11:29
• Broader Impacts & Anecdotes: 05:05, interwoven through 09:30

Conclusion

This episode offers a comprehensive look at how Function Health and its AI-driven Medical Intelligence Lab are shaping the future of personalized medicine. The host’s insights, mixed with a healthy sense of skepticism about health data privacy, provide a nuanced understanding of both the opportunities and the challenges ahead. For anyone interested in the intersection of tech, business, and health, this episode delivers clear, candid analysis and plenty of food for thought about where healthcare is headed in the age of AI.