February 14, 2026
Paging Dr. Hologram
Dr. Oz pushes AI avatars as a fix for rural health care
Dr. Oz says AI avatars can save rural health — commenters shout 'yikes' and Star Trek jokes
TLDR: CMS chief Dr. Oz pitched AI avatars, robots, and drones as a $50B fix for rural care. Commenters torched the idea with Star Trek memes and deep distrust—calling it risky and tone-deaf—while a small minority argues carefully used tech could triage basics and cut waits in doctor-scarce towns.
Dr. Mehmet Oz just floated a moonshot: use AI “avatars” — think computer characters that talk like a nurse — to stretch doctors across rural America as part of a $50 billion Trump-era upgrade that also promises robot diagnostics and med-delivery drones. He even mused about AI-guided devices in childbirth. The internet’s response? Warp speed to snark. One of the first reactions dropped a link to The Doctor (Star Trek), and the thread basically said, “fun episode, bad policy.”
The loudest mood is distrust. “Listening to DR. Oz is a path to an early paupers grave,” growled one user, while another snapped they “wouldn’t trust ‘Dr’ Oz” with cold medicine, let alone a newborn. A blunt “yikes” summed up the vibe. Beyond the roast, people voiced serious fears: replacing real doctors with screens in towns already losing hospitals, safety risks for expectant mothers, and whether private companies will hoover up patients’ data. Black Mirror quips and “Paging the EMH” memes piled on, with jokes like “Siri, deliver my baby” capturing the anxiety.
A small countercurrent says if used carefully — avatars for basic interviews, robots for tests, drones for meds — tech could shorten brutal wait times. But the commentariat’s verdict is clear: this feels more sci‑fi than care, and Oz is not the messenger they’re ready to trust.
Key Points
- •CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz proposed AI avatars to expand care capacity in rural areas.
- •The initiative is part of a $50 billion Trump administration plan to modernize rural health care.
- •Planned tools include digital avatars for basic interviews, robotics for remote diagnostics, and drones for medication delivery.
- •Oz suggested AI-guided devices could replace some in-person obstetric care.
- •The proposal is described as controversial and has drawn criticism, though details are not provided in the excerpt.