Ache administration startup Sword Well being on Tuesday introduced a brand new synthetic intelligence answer named Phoenix that sufferers can converse with for steering by means of digital bodily remedy classes. 

Sword, based in 2015, gives digital instruments to assist sufferers handle ache from dwelling and keep away from different remedies like opioids and surgical procedure. The corporate has used AI inside its merchandise since its launch, however CEO Virgílio Bento informed CNBC that Phoenix gives customers a extra human-like expertise. 

Phoenix is designed to duplicate the work of a care specialist. Bento stated sufferers ought to really feel like they’ve a bodily therapist inside their properties. Sufferers can discuss on to Phoenix about how they’re feeling, and the brand new “specialist” can reply, provide suggestions and alter the issue and length of the session in actual time. 

Sword sufferers be a part of classes utilizing a pill from the corporate that may observe their motion. Bento stated Phoenix displays their progress, and after every session, it summarizes their efficiency information and sends it to one in every of Sword’s human clinicians for evaluate.  

Bento stated Sword’s AI is at present in a position to analyze motion and supply easy suggestions, however Phoenix is extra conversational. Phoenix’s skill to investigate sufferers’ information and generate suggestions additionally helps the corporate’s clinicians function extra effectively, Bento added. 

Phoenix will suggest adjustments for the affected person’s subsequent session, in addition to a follow-up message concerning the session they accomplished. Bento stated a human clinician decides whether or not to just accept, reject or edit these suggestions. Sword’s clinicians have authority over what workouts are applicable for a affected person, so Phoenix doesn’t make any selections independently. 

“That is well being care, so you’ll all the time want that last approval,” Bento stated in an interview. “We have now sturdy guardrails by way of how we do issues.”

Sufferers can join Sword whether it is supported by their employer or their well being plan. Sword has already carried out greater than 3 million AI-powered classes with sufferers, in keeping with a launch Tuesday. Bento stated the corporate has been targeted on enterprise prospects however wish to make its options out there to everybody.

Sword additionally stated Tuesday it raised $100 million in a secondary sale to offer liquidity to present and former workers and early buyers. Bento stated the corporate is forecasting that it is going to be worthwhile this 12 months, however it raised an extra $30 million in a major sale to replace its valuation. 

The corporate has raised a complete of $340 million and is valued at $3 billion, in keeping with the discharge. It was valued at $2 billion in late 2021.     

Sword stated a mixture of new and present buyers participated within the spherical, a few of whom didn’t need to be named. Enterprise companies like Khosla Ventures, Founders Fund and Basic Catalyst have beforehand invested within the firm.

Sword has been testing Phoenix with some sufferers utilizing its “Thrive” digital bodily remedy product. Bento stated the corporate will proceed rolling it out to extra sufferers inside Thrive and throughout its different choices, together with its pelvic well being answer known as “Bloom,” over the approaching months.