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Forbes
15 hours ago
- Health
- Forbes
How AI Is Transforming Healthcare In 2025
Ashish Sukhadeve, Founder and CEO of Analytics Insight, providing organizations with strategic insights on disruptive technologies. In terms of its transformative effect, AI is doing for healthcare what electricity did for the industry. According to Fortune Business Insights, the global AI healthcare market was valued at $29.01 billion in 2024, and it's projected to grow to $504.17 billion by 2032. This represents a massive CAGR of 44%. For healthcare leaders, the time to act is now; AI is rapidly advancing areas such as illness prevention, diagnostics and drug discovery, and it has the potential to significantly reduce administrative burdens. Here are just some of the areas to follow when it comes to AI in the sector: Preventing Illness I think one of AI's most valuable contributions is its ability to prevent illness. There are many wearables, AI health apps and the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) available now. These consumer applications enable individuals to take charge of their own health. They allow users to monitor everything from heart rates to sleep cycles, turning passive patients into proactive participants. Doctors also benefit. AI helps them understand a patient's daily habits, risks and medical history. This improves their ability to offer personalized care. I see prevention, powered by data, as becoming the new normal. Diagnosis AI also excels in medical imaging and diagnostics. At Massachusetts General Hospital and MIT, AI detected lung nodules with 94% accuracy, outperforming radiologists, who achieved 65%. Similar results have been found for breast cancer detection. According to the Harvard School of Public Health, AI in diagnostics may reduce treatment costs by 50% and improve outcomes by 40%. AI is not just reducing medical errors; it is reducing medical anxiety. I believe with AI improving both accuracy and outcomes, healthcare leaders must treat diagnostics not as a back-office upgrade, but as a frontline opportunity for transformation. Drug Discovery Bringing a drug to market can take over 10 years and cost $172 million on average. Only 13.8% of compounds make it to approval. AI can help reduce this timeline dramatically. Systems like IBM Watson can process vast amounts of medical journals and case studies. DeepMind uses neural networks to solve complex health problems with learning algorithms. AstraZeneca's AI, trained on data from 500,000 people, can now predict diseases like Alzheimer's before symptoms appear. These tools can be used not only to improve timelines but also to save countless lives. Caring For The Aging Population As populations age, the demand for elder care rises. AI-powered robots are easing this burden, even when it comes to things like laundry. They are increasingly used to assist in physical therapy, provide companionship and reduce hospital visits. These machines can now hold conversations that stimulate mental engagement in older adults. The lesson is clear: Embracing AI not only addresses labor shortages but also opens new paths to compassionate, scalable elder care. Administration Support AI is improving what patients don't see, the administration. Microsoft's Dragon Copilot can create real-time notes during clinical consultations. Germany's Elea AI reports that it can cut testing and diagnosis from "weeks to hours." These and many other tools are giving doctors more time focusing on patient care. These tools are also helping save time when it comes to clinical decision making, and as evidenced by the Alzheimer's prediction example, AI increasingly supports early warnings. It can now identify high-risk patients using data patterns, including genetic and lifestyle factors. Tools like ChatRWD are replacing and outperforming generic AI models. Conclusion AI is not replacing doctors but empowering them. It now impacts every layer of healthcare, from diagnosis to prevention, from robots to research. Patients can be better informed. Doctors are better equipped. Systems are more efficient. In 2025, I believe the most important medical tool is not a scalpel; it's data, and AI is the surgeon. The future of healthcare is not waiting on some distant horizon; it's already here.
Forbes
19 hours ago
- Business
- Forbes
Turning Data Into Insight With Document Processing Start-Ups
Extracting high-quality data from large volumes of documents remains highly challenging Seemingly simple problems often defy simple solutions. Companies worldwide have almost endless amounts of potentially valuable data and intelligence locked up in documents such as Word files, PDFs, spreadsheets and even printed papers; mining that data for actionable insight should deliver huge benefits, right? In theory yes, but in practice, the process of automating accurate data extraction has proved hugely challenging, with conventional technologies struggling to interrogate complex documents in different formats. Now, however, generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) is promising to come to the rescue, prompting a boom in the intelligent document processing market – and a rash of new products and services from small start-ups and big tech. Research from Fortune Business Insights puts the value of this market at around $10.6 billion in 2025 but predicts it will be worth $66.7 billion by 2032; that's growth of more than 30% a year. 'Intelligent document processing refers to a workflow automation technology that mines, reads, scans and categorises data from documents to enhance business process automation,' explain Fortune's analysts. 'It combines optical character recognition (OCR) with AI machine learning algorithms to automate the handling of complex documents in different formats." San Francisco-based start-up Retab is one new entrant hoping to take advantage of advances in the field. The company, which is today announcing a $3.5 million pre-seed round, has developed a new platform that enables both developers and non-technical users such as analysts to automate the process of getting at the data they need. Retab's technology works alongside large language models from providers such as OpenAI, Google and Anthropic, ensuring they extract data from the user's document in such a way as to produce the most accurate results possible. 'Until now, it's taken teams of developers months to develop tools of sufficient quality,' says Louis de Benoist, co-founder and CEO of the company. 'People keep building demos that look like magic but break the moment you put them into production; Retab wraps the best models in a layer of logic that actually makes them usable with error handling and structured outputs.' Retab started out in the logistics sector, designing solutions to work with the wide range of variable documents that the industry generates, from bills of goods to invoices. Today, the company sees industries such as finance and healthcare as additional sectors where huge volumes of data need to be processed and where its solutions might therefore appeal. Today's seed funding round is led by early-stage funds including VentureFriends, Kima Ventures and K5 Global, as well as a number of angel investors. Those angels include Florian Douetteau, co-founder and CEO of Dataiku, who argues: 'The AI-fication of the economy depends on the capability to convert operations based on millions of documents into verified, structured data that autonomous systems can utilise; this process hinges on quality control, cost efficiency, and rapid implementation.' It's an argument that other players in an increasingly competitive market share. Other notable companies in the sector include ABBYY, Appian, Rossum, UiPath, though IBM and Microsoft also offer solutions. However, de Benoist is convinced that Retab can compete in this space, particularly with a software package aimed at analysts in businesses who lack specialist coding knowledge. 'The idea is to have a self-serve product that really appeals to a broad audience,' he says. 'It's the analysts who really understand in detail what they need from this data that need serving.' Fortune Business Insight's research suggests there should be plenty of new demand to go round. It sees finance and accounting as the sector's biggest customer but also points to procurement and HR as potentially significant buyers.
Yahoo
23-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
AI-Driven Cybersecurity Boom Makes These 3 Stocks Worth Buying
An updated edition of the June 9, 2025 article. Cybersecurity has shifted from being just an IT task to a major business priority. With companies facing constant cyberattacks, from ransomware to phishing schemes to major data breaches, the stakes are high. Cyberattacks don't just disrupt operations. They can lead to major financial losses and lasting brand damage. Given the rising risks, it's clear why cybersecurity has become one of the fastest-growing industries. Fortune Business Insights expects the global cybersecurity market to grow from $193.73 billion in 2024 to $562.72 billion by 2032 — a strong CAGR of 14.3%. Fueling this growth are stricter regulations, more complex IT systems and the need to guard sensitive data. Companies like Palo Alto Networks PANW, Zscaler ZS and CrowdStrike CRWD are already capitalizing on this trend by delivering advanced tools designed to tackle modern threats. Today's attacks are smarter and faster than ever, and traditional security tools are falling behind. This is where artificial intelligence (AI) comes in. AI can analyze vast volumes of data and detect potential threats before they escalate. It shifts cybersecurity from reactive to proactive. The pace at which threats emerge means companies need to automate their detection and response processes, and AI is the most promising way to do that. Companies like CyberArk CYBR, Fortinet FTNT and Okta OKTA are leaning heavily into AI. They're upgrading their platforms to detect and respond to threats more quickly and intelligently. This not only makes their products more valuable to customers but also gives them a stronger position in a fast-growing industry. Our Cybersecurity Screen makes it easy to identify high-potential stocks at any given time, just like the four mentioned above. Leveraging advanced tools, our thematic screens identify companies shaping the future, making it easier to capitalize on emerging trends. Ready to uncover more transformative thematic investment ideas? Explore 30 cutting-edge investment themes with Zacks Thematic Screens and discover your next big opportunity. 3 Cybersecurity Stocks to Buy CyberArk specializes in offering identity security solutions. It is strategically leveraging AI to strengthen its leadership in the identity security space. Its new Secure AI Agent solution directly addresses the risks posed by AI-driven machine identities, positioning the company at the forefront of protecting both human and non-human access. With AI agents proliferating across enterprise environments, CyberArk's unified platform offers critical capabilities like AI-specific discovery, privilege controls, lifecycle automation and governance. These innovations, combined with its acquisitions of Venafi and Zilla, are enhancing CyberArk's ability to consolidate identity solutions and drive multi-product adoption. As organizations move toward agentic AI and machine identity management, CyberArk is uniquely positioned to deliver end-to-end identity security. This strategic focus on AI is not only improving this Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) company's customer value proposition but also expanding its addressable market and supporting sustainable long-term revenue growth. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. Fortinet is a global leader in network security, offering a comprehensive suite of cybersecurity solutions, including next-generation firewalls, endpoint security and AI-driven threat intelligence. Unlike many of its competitors, Fortinet differentiates itself by providing high-performance security solutions at a lower cost, making it an attractive choice for enterprises looking for cost-efficient cybersecurity solutions. The company's FortiAI platform employs deep learning to automate threat detection and response, reducing the time it takes to identify and neutralize cyber threats. Fortinet has also integrated AI-driven analytics into its FortiGuard Security Services, enhancing its predictive threat intelligence capabilities. Fortinet stands out for its strong financial performance, consistently delivering profitability and robust free cash flow. Its expanding market share reflects the growing demand for its AI-enhanced security solutions, particularly among enterprises seeking high-performance protection at competitive pricing. With a solid balance sheet and continued investment in AI-driven security innovations, this Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) company remains a compelling choice for investors looking to capitalize on cybersecurity's long-term growth. Okta specializes in identity and access management, helping enterprises ensure that the right users have access to the right resources. The company is significantly ramping up its AI capabilities to stay ahead in the evolving cybersecurity landscape, particularly as digital identities become more complex with the rise of machine agents and generative AI. Its latest innovation, Identity Threat Protection with Okta AI, integrates machine learning and behavioral analytics to assess identity risks in real time. This solution continuously monitors user behavior, device context and login patterns to proactively detect and mitigate threats, allowing enterprises to enforce adaptive access policies that respond dynamically to risk signals. Okta's focus on protecting non-human identities (NHIs) and developers building secure agents is noteworthy. NHIs include service accounts, shared accounts, machines and tokens, and often operate outside traditional identity governance frameworks and can leave organizations vulnerable to security risks. Identity Security Posture Management and Okta Privileged Access help solve the vulnerabilities related to NHIs. OKTA exited the first quarter of fiscal 2026 with approximately 20,000 customers. Customers with more than $100,000 in Annual Contract Value increased 7% year over year to 4,870. The company's growing traction with Fortune 500 clients and expanding total addressable market make this Zacks Rank #2 stock a compelling long-term bet. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Fortinet, Inc. (FTNT) : Free Stock Analysis Report Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (PANW) : Free Stock Analysis Report CyberArk Software Ltd. (CYBR) : Free Stock Analysis Report Okta, Inc. (OKTA) : Free Stock Analysis Report Zscaler, Inc. (ZS) : Free Stock Analysis Report CrowdStrike (CRWD) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
Indian Express
20-07-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Explained: Biostimulants that aid plant growth, now under the Centre's scrutiny
Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan last week wrote to Chief Ministers of all states to immediately stop the 'forced tagging' of nano-fertilisers or biostimulants along with conventional fertilisers. Chouhan highlighted complaints that retailers are not selling subsidised fertilisers like urea and diammonium phosphate (DAP) to farmers unless they purchase biostimulants. He also said that many farmers had recently raised complaints about the inefficacy of biostimulants. 'It is necessary to review biostimulants thoroughly to see how much benefit the farmers are getting from it; if not, then permission to sell it cannot be given,' he said. The substances stimulate physiological processes in plants and help enhance the yield from a harvest. Plant-derived waste materials and seaweed extracts are at times used in their production. Officially, the Fertiliser (Inorganic, Organic or Mixed) (Control) Order, 1985, which regulates the manufacturing and sale of biostimulants, defines it as 'a substance or microorganism or a combination of both whose primary function when applied to plants, seeds or rhizosphere is to stimulate physiological processes in plants and to enhance its nutrient uptake, growth, yield, nutrition efficiency, crop quality and tolerance to stress… but does not include pesticides or plant growth regulators which are regulated under the Insecticide Act, 1968.' Market research firm Fortune Business Insights noted, 'The India biostimulants market size was valued at USD 355.53 million in 2024. The market is projected to grow from USD 410.78 million in 2025 to USD 1,135.96 million by 2032, exhibiting a CAGR of 15.64% during the forecast period.' Chouhan said that around 30,000 biostimulant products had been sold unchecked for several years, and even in the last four years, around 8,000 products remained in circulation. 'After I enforced stricter checks, the number has now come down to approximately 650,' he said in a statement on July 15. As biostimulants did not fall under the existing fertiliser or pesticide categories, they were sold in the open market without government approval for a long time. In India, fertilisers and pesticides are governed by the 1985 Fertiliser Control Order and the Insecticides Act of 1968, respectively. The Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare issues the Fertiliser Control Order (FCO) under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, and makes changes to it from time to time. However, in 2011, the Punjab and Haryana High Court made an observation. Any manufacturer producing a bioproduct claiming to be a substitute for insecticides or fertiliser, but not covered under the rules, was to apply to the respective Director General of Agriculture, in the case of Haryana and Punjab. This paved the way for states to take samples of these products and check them before allowing their sale to farmers. As the sale of biostimulants increased over the years, it caught the Centre's attention. In 2017, NITI Aayog, the government's premier think tank, and the Agriculture Ministry started working on a framework for biostimulants. Finally, in February 2021, the ministry amended the 1985 FCO and included biostimulants, paving the way for their regulated manufacturing, sale and import. The inclusion of biostimulants empowered the Central government to fix specifications. The FCO classified biostimulants specified in Schedule VI of the FCO in eight categories, including botanical extracts (as well as seaweed extracts), bio-chemicals, vitamins, and antioxidants. Every manufacturer or importer of a biostimulant shall make an application to the Controller of Fertilisers along with the requisite product information. The product's chemistry, source (natural extracts of plant/microbe/animal/synthetic), shelf-life, reports of bio-efficacy trials, and toxicity must be submitted, along with other data. The five basic acute toxicity tests are: (i) Acute oral (Rat) (ii) Acute dermal (Rat) (iii) Acute Inhalation (Rat) (iv) Primary skin Irritation (Rabbit) (v) Eye irritation (Rabbit) The four eco-toxicity tests are: (i) Toxicity to birds (ii) Toxicity to Fish (Freshwater) (iii) Toxicity to honeybees (iv) Toxicity to earthworm The FCO clearly states that no biostimulant shall contain any pesticide beyond the permissible limit of 0.01ppm. Further, agronomic bio-efficiency trials shall be conducted under the National Agricultural Research System, including the Indian Council of Agricultural Research and state agricultural universities. 'Bio-efficacy trials shall be conducted at minimum three different doses for one season at three agro-ecological locations,' it states. Additionally, on April 9, 2021, the agriculture ministry constituted the Central Biostimulant Committee for five years, with the Agriculture Commissioner as its Chairperson and seven other members. Under the FCO, it shall advise the Centre on: (i) inclusion of a new biostimulant; (ii) specifications of various biostimulants; (iii) methods of drawing of samples and its analysis; (iv) minimum requirements of laboratory; (v) method of testing of biostimulants; (vi) any other matter referred to it by the central government. According to the FCO order, amended in 2021, manufacturers could make and sell biostimulants for two years if they made an application for provisional registration. Sources say that the Agriculture Ministry kept extending the two-year deadline, which allowed most of the manufacturers as of 2021 to continue making and selling biostimulants based on provisional registration. Whereas, under the regular registration, companies have to submit testing protocols to the government. On March 17, in the latest extension of the provisional certificate facility, the ministry allowed biostimulants' sale for three months until June 16. It applied to all companies manufacturing or importing a biostimulant as of March 17, for which no standards were specified. With the March 17 notification having expired, the companies having provisional certificates and stocks of biostimulants cannot sell their products in the market now, said a source. In addition to this, the Agriculture Ministry notified 'Specifications of Biostimulants' on May 26 for several crops, including tomato, chilli, cucumber, paddy, brinjal, cotton, potato, green gram, grape, hot pepper, soybean, maize, and onion. Harikishan Sharma, Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express' National Bureau, specializes in reporting on governance, policy, and data. He covers the Prime Minister's Office and pivotal central ministries, such as the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare, Ministry of Cooperation, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Ministry of Rural Development, and Ministry of Jal Shakti. His work primarily revolves around reporting and policy analysis. In addition to this, he authors a weekly column titled "STATE-ISTICALLY SPEAKING," which is prominently featured on The Indian Express website. In this column, he immerses readers in narratives deeply rooted in socio-economic, political, and electoral data, providing insightful perspectives on these critical aspects of governance and society. ... Read More
Zawya
16-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Global smart building market to hit $252bln in 2025, says report
The global market for smart buildings is set to grow by at least 21.8% this year, reaching between $117 billion and $252 billion, thanks to the deployment of artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT) and advanced data analytics systems, as well as other technologies, according to Xylem Vue, a secure, integrated and agnostic software and analytics platform. Urban sustainability is steaming ahead globally thanks to the revolution in smart buildings and district heating and cooling (DHC) networks, which aim to streamline resource and energy management in cities. The uptake of technologies such as integrated digital platforms is pivotal to optimizing these systems. Smart buildings continue to redefine efficient resource use and sustainability, it stated. In 2025, the global market is estimated to soar with a compound annual growth rate of between 21.8% and 29.7% (Fortune Business Insights) in core segments such as energy management and security. According to Xylem Vue, this increase is linked to the deployment of technologies such as AI, IoT and advanced data analytics tools. These buildings, which are equipped with information and communication technology-based systems, require integrated digital platforms to manage multiple assets in real time and monitor their performance, from boosting energy efficiency to optimizing the operations of a range of systems, such as lighting, parking, and air conditioning. These emerging solutions for smart buildings include digital twins and energy management systems that optimize resource use and predict maintenance needs, it stated. According to Beatriz Bolonio, Solutions Selling Buildings & Industry at Xylem Vue, combining data via integrated platforms is transforming energy efficiency and paving the way for sustainable cities. These tools help to increase efficiency and reduce operating costs in commercial buildings, which will continue to lead the market with a 53% share in 2025. DHC networks are gaining ground in smart cities In addition, digital platforms are also becoming crucial in efficiently managing thermal energy distribution, as they enable the integration of various renewable energy sources and real-time adaptation to heating and cooling needs in different buildings. According to Xylem Vue, "Platforms are constantly monitored to optimize energy flow, improve operational efficiency, and ensure a rapid response to fluctuations in demand." This year, district heating and cooling (DHC) networks are gaining ground as a solution for reducing emissions and boosting energy efficiency, 'by integrating more and more renewable sources and waste energy recovery systems, thus promoting circular models, stated Xylem Vue. In addition, the benefits of DHC networks include a smaller operational footprint and reduced maintenance costs, positioning them as a key component of smart cities.- TradeArabia News Service Copyright 2024 Al Hilal Publishing and Marketing Group Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
