Skip to main content

Developing technology for the public interest | Coffee break research at LSE

With the NHS frequently described as ‘‘in crisis’’, some have positioned partnerships with tech start-ups as the solution. Yet, the values and incentives of venture-backed start-ups can conflict with the public interest principles that define the NHS
With the NHS frequently described as ‘‘in crisis’’, some have positioned partnerships with tech start-ups as the solution. Yet, the values and incentives of venture-backed start-ups can conflict with the public interest principles that define the NHS
Tuesday 28 October 2025 | 18 minutes 29 seconds
Download File | 152.87MB

With the NHS frequently described as ‘‘in crisis’’, some have positioned partnerships with tech start-ups as the solution. Yet, the values and incentives of venture-backed start-ups can conflict with the public interest principles that define the NHS.

In this talk, Dr Alison Powell draws on a new study to tell the cautionary tale of Babylon Health, which went bankrupt in 2023, to show the tension between ‘‘blitzscaling’’ – a tech-oriented business growth strategy – and the values underpinning NHS clinical practice. The talk will investigate how ideas about speed and scaling, as well as claims about the power of AI, influenced clinical labour practice and medical device regulation – with implications for future public interest technology development.

With the NHS frequently described as ‘‘in crisis’’, some have positioned partnerships with tech start-ups as the solution. Yet, the values and incentives of venture-backed start-ups can conflict with the public interest principles that define the NHS.

In this talk, Dr Alison Powell draws on a new study to tell the cautionary tale of Babylon Health, which went bankrupt in 2023, to show the tension between ‘‘blitzscaling’’ – a tech-oriented business growth strategy – and the values underpinning NHS clinical practice. The talk will investigate how ideas about speed and scaling, as well as claims about the power of AI, influenced clinical labour practice and medical device regulation – with implications for future public interest technology development.