The current enthusiasm for artificial intelligence, bordering on the febrile, has predictably inflated valuations in certain quarters. Nvidia, naturally, is the beneficiary of this particular mania, now looming over the S&P 500 like a particularly ostentatious folly. One observes the frenzy with a certain detachment, recalling that most revolutions end not in utopia, but in a slightly more efficient form of the status quo. However, to dismiss AI entirely would be the height of Luddism, and even a cynic must concede its potential, particularly within the less glamorous, yet undeniably lucrative, realm of healthcare.
Bristol Myers Squibb and Intuitive Surgical, two entities not generally associated with the vanguard of technological innovation, are cautiously dipping their toes into these waters. The results, while hardly transformative at this stage, merit a closer inspection, if only to determine whether the accompanying share price adjustments are justified.
Bristol Myers Squibb and the Microsoft Entente
Bristol Myers Squibb, a pharmaceutical behemoth preoccupied with the usual afflictions – cardiovascular disease, cancer, the general decay of the human condition – has entered into a partnership with Microsoft. The latter, possessing a near-monopoly on the digital infrastructure of American hospitals, will contribute its imaging technology. The stated aim – earlier diagnosis of lung cancer – is, of course, laudable. Whether this collaboration will actually deliver a breakthrough, or simply add another layer of complexity to an already Byzantine medical system, remains to be seen.
The significance, if any, lies in the recognition that AI can, at the very least, assist medical professionals. One suspects that the prospect of relieving them of actual labour is a distant dream. Should this initial foray prove successful, Bristol Myers Squibb will undoubtedly seek to expand its application, a process that will, no doubt, generate considerable expenditure and a corresponding demand for shareholder capital.
The market, predictably, remains unimpressed. Bristol Myers Squibb currently offers a dividend yield of 4.6%, a figure that suggests a certain lack of confidence in its growth prospects. A price-to-earnings ratio of 18, while not exorbitant, hardly screams ‘disruptive innovation’. For the income-focused investor, however, this may prove to be a propitious moment, a chance to acquire a solid, if unexciting, asset at a reasonable price.
Intuitive Surgical: A More Audacious Gamble
Intuitive Surgical, purveyors of the da Vinci surgical robot, occupies a different, considerably more precarious, position. Its valuation – a P/E ratio of 70 – suggests that the market has already priced in a substantial degree of future success. The company’s growth, admittedly, has been impressive. The number of installed robots increased by 13% between 2024 and 2025, while surgical procedures utilising the technology rose by an even more encouraging 19%. Demand, it seems, is robust, a fact that will no doubt please shareholders.
The recent FDA approval of AI-assisted imaging for lung surgery represents a more significant development. The inherent instability of the human lung, forever expanding and contracting, has long presented a challenge to surgeons. Real-time imaging, guided by artificial intelligence, promises to mitigate this difficulty. The long-term implications are, frankly, unsettling. One can readily imagine a future in which entire surgical procedures are performed by robots, overseen by a bored technician. The potential for cost savings is obvious, as is the erosion of professional expertise.
The Inevitable March of Progress (and Speculation)
Whether artificial intelligence will ultimately transform healthcare remains to be seen. The current hype, however, is undeniable. Bristol Myers Squibb and Intuitive Surgical, while hardly pioneers, are at least attempting to adapt to this new reality. For the discerning investor, these companies offer a measured, if unglamorous, opportunity to participate in the unfolding drama. One should, however, approach with caution, remembering that progress, like most revolutions, is rarely as benevolent as its proponents claim.
Read More
- 39th Developer Notes: 2.5th Anniversary Update
- Gold Rate Forecast
- TON PREDICTION. TON cryptocurrency
- Bitcoin’s Bizarre Ballet: Hyper’s $20M Gamble & Why Your Grandma Will Buy BTC (Spoiler: She Won’t)
- The 10 Most Beautiful Women in the World for 2026, According to the Golden Ratio
- Celebs Who Fake Apologies After Getting Caught in Lies
- The 35 Most Underrated Actresses Today, Ranked
- Nikki Glaser Explains Why She Cut ICE, Trump, and Brad Pitt Jokes From the Golden Globes
- AIQ: A Calculated Gamble (That Paid Off)
- Chips & Shadows: A Chronicle of Progress
2026-01-24 02:32