Learn how Meta smart glasses can help patients with visual impairment reclaim their independence. In this episode of the BMJ Future Health podcast, we explore the intersection of digital health innovation, playful problem solving, and accessibility with a leading paediatric surgeon and an expert by experience.

What you will learn in this episode: Hosted by Dr. Cat Schuster-Bruce and Dr Maxine Mackintosh, this discussion explores the real-world impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on daily life. You will hear the powerful story of Alison, who lives with severe sight loss and epilepsy following a brain injury. She explains how consumer technology - specifically Meta glasses and Amazon’s Alexa - improved her ability to navigate public transport and helped her regain autonomy.

We also speak with Professor Iain Hennessey, a consultant paediatric/neonatal surgeon and clinical director of innovation at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital. Hennessey explains why gamification in healthcare (using tools like Minecraft) is critical for treating young people and how adopting a "playful" mindset can solve complex clinical problems. The panel candidly discusses the challenges of digital exclusion, the cost of health tech, and how to prevent innovation from widening health inequalities

Why watch? Discover how adopting a "paediatric mindset" - prioritising play and simplicity - can drive cost-effective innovation and restore patient independence. Live podcast filmed at the BMJ Future Health event 2025. Key topics and chapters: Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction: Defining 'play' in health innovation and failure as a learning tool. 02:34 - Meet the guests 03:45 - The role of play in surgery 04:24 - Building trust with patients: ‘I can turn up in a [Star Wars] Jedi outfit’ 07:08 - Gamification in healthcare: How Minecraft helped treat a child with a heart condition. 10:42 - To come up with something novel in adult healthcare, it must be ridiculous at first 11:48 - Alison’s story: Using Amazon Alexa and Meta smart glasses for independence 15:26 - Cost, maintenance, and accessibility in health tech 17:48 - Addressing health inequalities: Ensuring AI does not widen the gap 20:21 - Reducing hospital admissions: Using machine learning algorithms to identify kids with a high chance of not attending hospital appointments 21:25 - Alison: the similarities between communicating with a child, and people with sensory impairments 23:10 - Conclusion: Why fun is serious business in health tech

About BMJ Future Health: BMJ Future Health provides expert analysis and debate on the digital transformation of healthcare. Backed by the credibility of The BMJ, we bring together clinicians, patients, and industry leaders to discuss the evidence behind the innovation.

How safe are the new wave of AI scribes? To what extent do large tech companies use their influence to push you toward specific solutions - be it a drug, a surgery, or a product? And what does the rise of anglocentric Large Language Models mean for communities in places like Kenya, Rwanda, and Pakistan.

Join Cat and Maxine as they tackle Ambient Voice Technology research and interview Dr. Bilal Mateen, Chief AI Officer at PATH, about the practical and ethical hurdles of implementing state-of-the-art technologies in diverse global settings.

- How much information do AI scribes pick up? - How does the business model of an AI tool affect its recommendations? - What is the surprising connection between "pieces of meat" and LLMs? (Tune in to hear the full metaphor.) Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction 02:26 - AI Scribes: Promise & Pitfalls 04:58 - Welcoming Dr. Bilal Mateen 06:32 - Bilal’s Story: Water Bottle & Early Inspiration 08:21 - Reflections on Jane Goodall & Global Health 10:05 - What Does a Chief AI Officer Do? 13:10 - Generative AI in Low-Resource Settings 19:47 - Anglocentrism in LLM-Based Tools 25:56 - Data Colonialism 30:26 - Community Voices & Closing Thoughts Competing Interests for Bilal Mateen: Employed by PATH, an American International NGO. Honorary Professorial Chair at the University of Birmingham in Machine Learning for Health. Occasional unpaid advisory roles for the World Health Organisation. Doesn’t own stocks and shares in any individual company.

Resources and Links:

BMJ Future Health Event https://futurehealth.bmj.com/

Clinical AI Scribes in primary care: accuracy, error severity and implications for clinical practice | BMJ Digital Health & AI https://bmjdigitalhealth.bmj.com/content/1/1/e000092

PATH: https://www.path.org/

Between Myths and Metaphors: Rethinking LLMs for SRH in Conservative Contexts https://arxiv.org/abs/2511.01907

"Koyi Sawaal Nahi Hai": Reimagining Maternal Health Chatbots for Collective, Culturally Grounded Care https://arxiv.org/abs/2510.27401

Book Recommendation: High Noon: 20 Global Problems in 20 Years to Solve Them by Jean-François Rischard.

People Mentioned: Jane Goodall (Ethologist and Conservationist) Jean-François Rischard (Vice President of the World Bank (1998 to 2005)) Maryam Mustafa (Assistant Professor at the Department of Computer Science at the Lahore University of Management Sciences, Pakistan). Samuel Rutunda (CTO at Digital Umuganda, an AI company specialising in language technology for African languages)

Production: Assistant Producer: Brian Kennedy Producer: Brian O’Toole Senior Producer: Paul Simpson Exec Producer: Cat Bruce

Find more from BMJ Future Health on: - Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bmj-future-health-podcast/id1739815865 - Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2qrcv6rN2Xhli7VbZdnyAN - Podbean: https://bmjfuturehealth.podbean.com/

Welcome to the BMJ Future Health podcast! We're building a space for clear thinking about the future of health that's trusted and entertaining. Join hosts Dr. Cat (Schuster) Bruce and Dr. Maxine Mackintosh. We explore the facts and evidence in digital health and AI, but want to understand the field through the real stories of those involved. We cover everything from life sciences and research all the way to care and TikTok trends. Tune in for the insights, stay for the good anecdotes. Let's shape the future of health, together.

Find this podcast in video form on YouTube and Spotify. Listen on Apple Podcasts, or anywhere else you listen to podcasts.