Topic: Cat Scans

Larry Ellison stated that the entry price for a "frontier" AI model will soon reach $100 billion over the next four to five years. He claimed that specialized AI models will revolutionize healthcare by detecting cancer through blood tests and CAT scans. These assertions are compared to the failed promises of Theranos, questioning the actual utility of AI in medical diagnostics.

A psychiatry researcher clarifies that autism cannot be diagnosed via CAT scan or fMRI, despite claims made to some patients. While studies show statistical differences in brain activity among those with Autism Spectrum Disorder, these findings are not yet approved for clinical diagnosis. The hosts warn listeners that they are being "hoodwinked" if told otherwise.

The hosts discuss the increasing frequency of autism and Asperger's diagnoses among millennials. They express skepticism toward claims that CAT scans can definitively prove a patient is on the autism spectrum, suggesting that doctors are using questionable science to push psychiatric medications and label young people with permanent disorders.

An excerpt from "This American Life" illustrates the pressure on doctors to perform unnecessary tests to avoid lawsuits. A physician describes a case where a father demanded a CAT scan for his daughter despite the risk of thyroid cancer from radiation. The hosts argue that the fee-for-service model and lack of tort reform incentivize dangerous medical over-utilization.