Former UK NHS AI Head Joins Palantir; Could Trigger Clash Of Interests

Palantir Technologies Inc PLTR engaged the former head of artificial intelligence at the digital wing of Britain’s National Health Service as it looks to sign a lucrative new contract with the U.K. government, Bloomberg reports.
Indra Joshi quit as director of AI for NHSX in March, saying it was “time to take a break before moving on to my next challenge.”
Palantir is vying for a £240 million ($313 million) U.K. contract to manage datasets for the NHS dealing with a new Federated Data Platform to deliver “transformational improvements across the NHS.”
Also Read: Activists Launch Campaign Against Palantir’s NHS Collaboration: CNBC
The government has already run into trouble over its relationship with Palantir after handing Palantir a £23 million contract to run the NHS Covid-19 Data Store, which gave the firm access to patient records.
Privacy campaigners prosecuted the government, saying the arrangement broke transparency rules.
As head of AI at NHSX, Joshi signed contracts and oversaw a £140 million grant program to fund private companies developing AI to improve diagnostics in areas like breast cancer. The grants come with special access to NHS patient datasets.
Analyst Rating: RBC Capital analyst Rishi Jaluria upgraded Palantir from Underperform to Sector Perform and raised the price target from $9 to $12 (6.8% downside).
Price Action: PLTR shares traded higher by 0.90% at $12.91 on the last check Thursday.

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