VA announces creation of new AI testing ground with FDA

Dr. Shereef Elnahal, VA Under Secretary for Health, speaks during a press conference outside of Building A of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs at 1700 North Wheeling St in Aurora, Colorado on March 4, 2024. Elnahal announced the creation of an interagency testing ground for healthcare AI applications at the Veterans Health Administration Innovation Experience Oct. 30. Helen H. Richardson/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images

The Department of Veterans Affairs and the Food and Drug Administration are partnering to launch an interagency testing ground for healthcare-related artificial intelligence tools. 

VA Undersecretary for Health Shereef Elnahal announced the news during the Veterans Health Administration Innovation Experience conference on Wednesday, saying that the agencies are establishing a joint health AI lab to evaluate promising emerging technologies.

Elnahal said the lab will serve as asset for federal agencies and the private sector “to be able to test applications ...