Transforming Pharmacy Healthcare: AI's Impact on Patient Interaction Pharmacy View Podcast

In this episode of the Pharmacy View Podcast’s Rx to Riches stream, international host Michael Alexander, a Pharmacist, entrepreneur, digital health enthusiast, Co-Founder of Audrie, and the Regional Vice-President of Health Plans at Omada Health, interviews Anthony Sapountzis, Co-Founder and CTO of Aerion Technologies. Listen to the episode and delve into the transformative role of technology and AI in the Pharmacy sector. The episode also covers insightful discussions on entrepreneurship, AI development, and the future of Pharmacy operations.

Anthony talks about their journey from university to entrepreneurship and the evolving landscape of technology. Anthony's lifelong passion for technology has guided their career, transitioning from a developer's role to a business leader, driven by problem-solving and a desire to assist others. They recount the inception of their entrepreneurial journey during a summer internship, where they seized an opportunity to collaborate on a project with La Trobe University, leading to the establishment of their own business—Aerion Technologies.

Anthony then delves into the intricacies of AI development, emphasizing the importance of utilizing AI to enhance processes rather than integrating chatbots for the sake of it. They discuss the challenges of setting up effective guardrails within AI-driven applications and caution against overreliance on AI to handle tasks without human oversight autonomously. Despite AI's transformative potential, Anthony stresses the need for caution, ethical considerations, and human judgment in its implementation.

The discussion extends to the impact of AI in the Pharmacy sector, highlighting its role in price comparison, marketing analysis, and administrative tasks. While AI streamlines certain aspects of Pharmacy operations, Anthony emphasizes the continued importance of human interaction and cautions against expecting AI to replace Pharmacists entirely. They advocate for a nuanced approach to integrating AI into daily Pharmacy operations, considering the complexities of Pharmacist-patient interactions and the ethical implications of AI usage.

Looking ahead, Anthony anticipates further advancements in AI and its integration into programming and development processes. They highlight the potential for AI to revolutionize industries but emphasize the importance of maintaining control over autonomous systems. Anthony also shares insights on storytelling in movies and their company's presence on various social media platforms, aiming to provide valuable content to assist individuals in app and software development.