Utah Gives AI the Green Light for Acne Prescriptions

In a groundbreaking move, Utah has allowed artificial intelligence to take on a role traditionally held by doctors. Starting Monday, Nolla Health’s AI has been authorized to issue first-time prescriptions for acne, marking a unique approval in the United States, as reported by Bloomberg. Previously, the state had permitted another startup to utilize AI for approving prescription refills, despite some pushback from medical professionals.

“This makes Nolla the first ever end-to-end AI doctor,” said Luis Wenus, the founder of Nolla Health, in a post on X that showcased the new product. The AI system constructs personalized treatment plans and prescribes acne medication based on a facial scan, as Wenus elaborated in a demonstration video.

“Until now, a licensed clinician signed every single prescription before it went out,” he explained. “Our AI can now make that prescribing decision itself.”

Wenus is focused on “building personal doctors,” according to his X profile. Prior to Nolla, he worked with Worldcoin, a project by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman that involves scanning people’s eyes to confirm their identity and compensating them with cryptocurrency tokens.

According to reports, Nolla Health is the first organization in the U.S.—and potentially the world—to gain regulatory approval for an AI to write initial prescriptions. This development firmly positions Nolla as a pioneer in AI healthcare.

Utah’s Office of Artificial Intelligence Policy (OAIP), along with the Division of Professional Licensing, signed an agreement with Nolla Health, granting permission for the AI to prescribe topical acne treatments. However, the AI is restricted from prescribing isotretinoin (often known as Accutane) or any oral medications.

Interestingly, two physicians must approve every prescription during the initial four-week phase of the program, which includes at least 100 patients, according to Nolla’s agreement with the OAIP. After this period, the review process will shift to post-issue checks and then involve monthly prescription audits.

This arrangement is part of Utah’s AI Learning Lab, a program designed to relax certain state regulations so companies can pilot AI products under state supervision. It is important to note that participating in this AI sandbox does not equate to the State of Utah formally approving or endorsing the product, as clarified by the Utah Office of Artificial Intelligence Policy. They emphasized that the testing is conditional and that companies in the sandbox remain accountable for their activities under the agreement.

Meanwhile, Congress is beginning to consider the implications of liability for AI systems, as medical labs are rapidly adopting AI technologies for patient diagnosis.