As a national health system, the VA has amassed a significant amount of data--possibly giving it a leg up because lack of trustworthy and accessible data has traditionally been one of the major roadblocks to AI development. In other health technology news: a website helps patients with rare diseases find more information about them. Modern Healthcare: VA Dives Into Artificial Intelligence R&D The Department of Veterans Affairs has opened a new artificial intelligence institute to pursue research and inform national strategy. The National Artificial Intelligence Institute, a joint initiative of the VA's office of research and development and the VA secretary's center for strategic partnerships, will work with public and private partners to carry out AI research and development projects, including efforts to apply AI to identify veterans at high risk for suicide or to help reduce patient wait times. The Washington Post: Rare Diseases Lack Data But This Website Aims To Help Achondrogenesis, Noonan syndrome and sialadenitis aren't household names.