OpenAI has acquired Torch, a health-care technology startup, in a deal valued at $60 million, signaling a strategic push into clinical AI applications. The move follows Torch’s development of AI-driven tools for patient diagnostics and care coordination.
- OpenAI acquired Torch for $60 million in January 2026
- Torch was co-founded by Ilya Abyzov, also a co-founder of Forward
- Forward used tech-enabled 'CarePods' for automated patient visits
- Torch’s AI platform supports diagnostics and care coordination
- Acquisition is intended to expand OpenAI’s health-care AI capabilities
- Integration of Torch’s team and models into OpenAI’s health research
OpenAI has finalized the acquisition of Torch, a health-care technology startup, for $60 million, according to multiple sources familiar with the transaction. The deal marks OpenAI’s most significant move into clinical health technology to date. Torch, led by CEO Ilya Abyzov, previously co-founded Forward, a direct-to-consumer primary care provider known for its tech-integrated 'CarePods'—automated kiosks enabling rapid, data-rich patient visits. Torch’s platform leverages machine learning to analyze medical histories, symptoms, and real-time biometrics to assist clinicians in early diagnosis and treatment planning. The $60 million acquisition price reflects growing investor confidence in AI applications within health care, particularly in automating routine clinical workflows and improving diagnostic accuracy. While the exact financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed beyond the total value, internal documents confirm the deal closed in early January 2026, with Torch’s engineering and clinical AI teams integrating directly into OpenAI’s health initiatives. The acquisition is expected to accelerate the development of a new suite of AI tools for primary care, diagnostics, and patient monitoring. The integration of Torch’s AI models into OpenAI’s existing health-focused research, including its work on multimodal medical reasoning, positions the company to compete more aggressively with established health tech firms and hospital systems investing in AI. Health providers, startups, and regulatory agencies are watching closely, as the combined capabilities could influence standards for AI-assisted care. The move also raises questions about data privacy, algorithmic bias, and the future of physician oversight in AI-enabled clinics.