What happens when AI meets the most personal parts of our lives—our minds and our bodies?

In this episode, a16z's Bryan Kim is joined by Jonathan Swerdlin (Function Health) and Daniel Cahn (Slingshot AI / Ash) to explore how founders are reimagining healthcare and mental health from the ground up using AI. They discuss:

- Why the most impactful AI experiences start with real human context—not just digital behavior
- Building trust in consumer health products outside of traditional systems
- Creating AI that supports—not replaces—doctors and therapists
- What “hourly active use” looks like when AI truly helps

From biomarker-driven health insights to AI-powered therapy, this conversation dives into how founders are reshaping care for a more accessible, continuous, and deeply personal future.

Timecodes:
0:00 Introduction & The Human Experience of AI
0:50 Personal Stories: Founders' Health Journeys
3:40 The State of Mental Health & AI's Role
5:08 Surprising Insights from Building in Health Tech
6:05 Rethinking User Experience in AI Health Products
08:52 Trust, Momentum, and Building for Impact
12:15 Engagement, Retention, and Product Usage Patterns
17:00 The Power and Limits of AI in Health & Therapy
21:10 Human Connection vs. AI: Augmentation, Not Replacement
27:00 Ethics, Autonomy, and the Human Element

Resources:
Find Jonathan on X: https://x.com/swerdlin
Find Daniel on X: https://x.com/danielreidcahn
Find Bryan on X: https://x.com/kirbyman01

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Please note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details, please see a16z.com/disclosures.