A breakout moment for AI medicine

PLUS: This new headset measures burnout

Good morning, tech enthusiasts. Your next prescription might come from a selfie. Utah just gave Nolla Health’s AI a first-in-the-U.S. green light to diagnose acne and prescribe treatment, and a roadmap to eventually do it without a doctor approving each script first.

Also today: headphones that clock your burnout before you do, and Google’s leaked Fitbit Edge.

In today’s tech rundown:

  • Utah now lets AI prescribe acne meds

  • Neurable launches headphones that track your focus

  • Fitbit Edge leak hints at a smarter fitness band

  • Scientists brew up a new way to build on Mars

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

AI MEDICINE

Image source: Nolla Health

The Rundown: Utah just authorized Nolla Health’s AI to assess acne and write first-time prescriptions, eventually without a doctor signing off on each one beforehand. It’s the first U.S. approval of its kind, and a step past the state’s earlier refill-only pilots.

The details:

  • Adults complete a questionnaire and a facial scan in the Nolla Derm app, which returns a treatment plan and prescription in minutes; the plan costs $4.99/month.

  • The AI picks from a fixed menu: topical creams and gels for mild-to-moderate acne. Oral drugs, isotretinoin (Accutane), and severe cases are off the table.

  • Two physicians approve every prescription at first; later stages shift to after-the-fact review, then monthly audits of at least 10% of cases.

  • Each step up requires hitting safety targets — 95% physician agreement, zero serious adverse events — plus written state approval.

Why it matters: The premise is that AI could help a limited pool of doctors reach far more patients. By handling routine prescribing within clear limits, systems like Nolla could lower the cost of care and free clinicians to focus on complex cases. If Utah’s pilot meets its safety targets, it could give other states a practical blueprint to follow.

TOGETHER WITH DREXEL UNIVERSITY

The Rundown: Unleash the power of AI with Drexel University’s Master’s in Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning. The interdisciplinary program is taught by visionary leaders and experts to provide a deep understanding of the latest methodologies, techniques, and ethics in AI today.

In this program, you’ll:

  • Learn about the implementation and use of AI and machine learning tools

  • Design, implement, and evaluate custom computer-based AI systems and processes

  • Dive into data science and analytics, computation theory, and algorithms

NEURABLE

Image source: Neurable

The Rundown: Boston-based neurotech company Neurable just launched the $499 Neurable One, a pair of brain-sensing headphones designed to track your focus and tell you when to step away from the screen.

The details:

  • After teaming up with Master & Dynamic on earlier models, Neurable built this pair in-house; U.S. preorders are open, with orders shipping in 4–8 weeks.

  • Twelve EEG sensors woven into the ear cushions measure brain activity, feeding an app that offers focus feedback, break reminders, and weekly/monthly reports.

  • Neurable says its new Brain Battery metric estimates remaining mental reserves, while Alpha Peak Frequency tracks your strongest resting brain rhythm.

  • The headphones block outside noise and play music for up to 22 hours, but switching on the brain sensors cuts that to 12 hours.

Why it matters: Neurable One records brain activity while worn with the app open, turning an everyday accessory into a growing archive of personal brain data. Neurable markets it as a wellness product and promises never to sell brain data or use it for ads; Colorado and California already extend sensitive-data protections to neural data.

GOOGLE

Image source: Android Headlines / Images 2.5

The Rundown: A new leak has surfaced for Google’s rumored Fitbit Edge, a fitness tracker that could pack a small screen, smartwatch features, and up to seven days of battery life, reports Android Headlines.

The details:

  • Leaked images show an oval display and black, green, and pinkish-orange finishes resembling the Pixel 11 Pro’s color palette.

  • Reported specs include GPS, elevation tracking, automatic activity recognition, and up to seven days of battery life.

  • Leaked materials list notifications, Google Maps, music controls, and Find My Phone, with support for both Android and iPhone.

  • Android Headlines points to a possible October launch, but Google has yet to confirm a release date or price.

Why it matters: If the leaks hold, the Edge could appeal to people who want glanceable fitness stats and Google Maps support with less frequent charging. Reported iPhone compatibility would broaden that appeal, though its value will depend on the final price and real-world performance.

SPACE TECH

Image source: Ning Liu / Chem Circularity

The Rundown: Yeast’s next job could be Martian construction: Hong Kong researchers have developed a printable mix of engineered microbes, gelatin, and sand that could eventually help build shelters on the Red Planet.

The details:

  • The secret is stickiness: Genetically modified yeast produces adhesive proteins, helping a gelatin binder hold mineral grains together.

  • Researchers printed a miniature structure at −30°C and 1% of Earth’s atmospheric pressure to freeze-dry the mixture into a solid, porous material.

  • The material reached compressive strength comparable to low-grade concrete and maintained its mechanical performance through four recycling cycles.

  • Tests used ordinary sand; actual Martian soil remains untested, and the strongest recipe requires Earth-supplied gelatin.

Why it matters: Hauling construction material to Mars costs a fortune, and baking local soil into bricks consumes scarce power, so a recipe that hardens with no heat at all solves a real problem. It also adds an unlikely requirement to the Mars mission manifest: a starter culture of yeast.

QUICK HITS

Apple CEO John Ternus is reportedly acting as its de facto design chief, working directly with the industrial and interface design teams several times a week.

Meta is rolling out Audio Balance and Mono Audio to its smart glasses, alongside broader availability of walking directions and phone-to-glasses location sharing.

Nvidia’s stock hit a record high, putting it within reach of becoming the first company worth $6T, Bloomberg reports.

Instagram is exploring a Plus-only “read-only” mode that blocks interactions and story viewing, but it remains an internal experiment with no confirmed launch.

Elon Musk regained trillionaire status after SpaceX shares rose nearly 8% on Monday, lifting his estimated net worth to $1.046T, Forbes reports.

Schneider Electric’s shares reportedly fell more than 9% after it announced its largest-ever acquisition, a $22.6B deal to buy software company PTC.

AstraZeneca agreed to invest $2B in Summit Therapeutics and jointly test Summit’s cancer drug ivonescimab alongside its own treatments.

Doctors in China reportedly used a needle-based heat treatment to shrink a fast-growing lung tumor in a baby still in the womb, aiming to save its life.

SpaceX is seeking approval for a 32.4-mile natural gas pipeline in Florida to supply methane for Starship launches as its operations outgrow existing fuel deliveries.

San Diego County is suing AppLovin for allegedly bypassing parental controls to collect children’s data and show them sexually explicit, alcohol, and vaping ads.

Honda and its partners are developing roads that could wirelessly charge electric trucks while driving, with public-road demos planned in 2027.

TikTok is adding an AI shopping assistant and one-click checkout so users can discover products and buy directly from brands without leaving the app.

That's it for today's tech rundown!

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Rowan, Zach, Shubham, Jennifer, and Nate — The Rundown’s editorial team

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