AI-Powered Street Medicine Brings Hope to San Francisco's Unhoused

A new AI-powered programme aims to improve healthcare access for unhoused people in the San Francisco Bay Area. The initiative, launched by Future Communities Institute (FCI) in partnership with Five Keys, ReImagine Freedom, and Akido Labs, will expand street medicine services for thousands living on the streets. The region has seen a 6% rise in homelessness over the past year, with nearly two-thirds of unhoused residents unsheltered.

The programme will use Akido Labs' ScopeAI, an artificial intelligence system capable of conducting full patient visits. This technology can start medically assisted treatment (MAT) for substance use disorders within four hours of first contact. Akido's integrated care model, developed with input from the communities it serves, forms a central part of the effort.

FCI will lead the collaboration, helping design an evaluation framework tailored to each community's needs. The goal is to boost the capacity of street medicine teams and enable community health workers to reach more patients. Currently, there are too few providers to meet the complex medical and mental health needs of the unhoused population.

The initiative follows Akido Labs' recent USD 60 million Series B funding round, led by DST Global. Heliad also participated in the investment, announced on January 14, 2026, in Frankfurt am Main. FCI, a non-profit focused on data-driven, human-centred solutions, will coordinate the programme to help people access care before they require emergency services.

The partnership will provide critical support to thousands of unhoused individuals in the Bay Area. By combining AI technology with community-focused care, the programme seeks to address gaps in healthcare delivery. The effort comes as homelessness continues to grow, with many residents lacking stable shelter and medical support.