AI Tool Aims to Improve Healthcare for California's Homeless

Akido Labs' Scope AI model generates diagnoses and treatment plans for outreach workers to use with unhoused patients

Jan. 27, 2026 at 9:17am

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Los Angeles-based health tech company Akido Labs plans to expand its AI-powered Scope tool to the Bay Area next month. Scope assists non-medical outreach workers in assessing homeless patients, generating diagnoses, medication suggestions, and next steps that are then reviewed by doctors. The tool has seen success in Los Angeles, but critics raise concerns about AI reliability, data privacy, and potential biases when treating a vulnerable population.

Why it matters

California's homeless population faces significant barriers to accessing quality healthcare, and innovative solutions are needed to improve their care. However, the use of AI in this context raises ethical questions about the technology's limitations and potential unintended consequences for an already marginalized group.

The details

Akido Labs developed the Scope AI tool to streamline the intake and diagnosis process for homeless patients. Scope generates questions for outreach workers to ask, records and transcribes the interviews, and suggests diagnoses, tests, and medications. This information is then reviewed by a doctor, who can approve or modify the recommendations. Scope has been used in Los Angeles since 2023 and has seen over 5,000 patients, with the tool landing on the correct diagnosis in its top three suggestions 99% of the time. However, critics argue that AI may not be able to account for the unique circumstances and needs of homeless individuals, and could reinforce existing biases in healthcare.

  • Akido Labs plans to expand the use of Scope AI to the Bay Area starting next month (February 2026).
  • Since 2023, Akido's outreach workers have been using Scope in homeless encampments in Los Angeles County.

The players

Akido Labs

A Los Angeles-based health care technology company that developed the Scope AI tool to assist in providing healthcare to homeless individuals.

Scope AI

An AI-powered tool created by Akido Labs that generates diagnoses, medical tests, and medication suggestions for homeless patients based on interviews conducted by non-medical outreach workers.

Brett Feldman

The founder of USC Street Medicine, who expresses concerns about the reliability of AI in treating the unique needs of the homeless population.

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What they’re saying

“I would say, in general, that this would not work for this population.”

— Brett Feldman, Founder, USC Street Medicine (CalMatters)

The takeaway

The use of AI in healthcare for the homeless population raises important questions about the technology's limitations, potential biases, and ability to address the unique needs of this vulnerable group. As Akido Labs expands the use of Scope AI, ongoing evaluation and collaboration with homeless advocates and medical professionals will be crucial to ensuring the tool provides effective and equitable care.