Oura to Acquire Counsel Health for $625 Million in Cash

Key Takeaways

• Oura agreed to acquire Counsel Health for $625 million in cash, combining its biometric data with AI-supported primary care and access to board-certified physicians.
• Oura reported preliminary unaudited sales growth of 153%; the deal is expected to close before year-end, while its IPO plans remain on hold.
• Riskified is addressing fraud risks tied to AI shopping agents; its stock was on pace for its strongest daily performance in four years.
• Jacksonville reports more than 400,000 hours saved since July 1, 2023; its employee AI assistant pilot is estimated to save 90,000 hours annually, with a 120,000-hour target.
• CareSource is launching $1 million in grants for responsible healthcare AI, including predictive analytics, natural-language processing and clinical decision support.
• Google DeepMind AI supports hurricane forecasting at the U.S. National Hurricane Center, but human forecasters retain decision-making authority.
• Italian prosecutors allege Amazon’s European unit and two managers were involved in sales of more than 1.5 million imports without proper duties, including over €3.52 million in unpaid VAT.
• D.C. residents have criticized AI-generated food ads; a lawyer says they could be unlawful if they seriously misrepresent food quality or quantity.
• ValueSelling Associates launched Dynamo, an AI-powered deal simulation intended to give sales teams more practice with buyer conversations.
• OpenAI reported $10 billion in quarterly revenue and a $10.9 billion adjusted operating loss; Anthropic reported $17 billion in revenue and a $567 million operating loss. ChatGPT has 1.2 billion weekly active users and 100 million paying subscribers.

Oura to Buy Counsel Health for $625 Million as Sales Surge

Oura agreed on November 10 to buy Counsel Health, an AI-powered primary care company, for $625 million in cash. Counsel pairs medical AI with in-house physicians, allowing Oura members to get advice in the app and speak with a board-certified doctor within minutes when needed. The companies already work together, and Counsel will continue serving its existing and new partners. Oura expects the deal to close before the end of the calendar year, subject to customary closing conditions. Oura also reported preliminary, unaudited results, including a 153% increase in sales.

Oura Agrees to Buy Counsel Health in $625 Million Deal

Smart ring maker Oura plans to acquire AI health company Counsel Health for $625 million. Counsel combines medical AI with in-house physicians, and Oura members can chat with its AI and reach a board-certified doctor within minutes when needed. The service will connect Oura’s continuous biometric data with medical guidance and care in the Oura app. Oura said the deal supports its goal of offering more proactive, personalized health care. The news followed Oura’s announcement that it was putting its IPO plans on hold, while CEO Hale said the company would choose its timing and continue pursuing opportunities.

Riskified Moves to Tackle Fraud in AI-Powered Online Shopping

The rise of AI shopping agents is changing online shopping and creating new risks for merchants. Fraudsters are also stealing, and Riskified is stepping in to address the threat. Riskified stock was on pace Wednesday for its strongest daily performance in four years. The article describes the shift as a new era for e-commerce.

Jacksonville Uses Technology to Save Thousands of Work Hours

Jacksonville, Florida, has recorded more than 400,000 hours in efficiency savings since Mayor Donna Deegan took office on July 1, 2023, including more than 180,000 hours in fiscal 2026. CIO Wanyonyi Kendrick said the city is using process improvements and technology to make services faster and easier. Through the JAXEPICS permitting system, average waits for a first construction plan review fell from 33 days to 19, while second reviews dropped from 14 days to seven. A new Fire and Rescue warehouse system is expected to save about 1,200 hours each year, and a telephone services review is on track to save more than $675,000. An employee AI assistant pilot is estimated to save 90,000 hours annually, with the city aiming for 120,000 hours as it expands the project.

AI Improves Hurricane Forecasts While Forecasters Retain Control

Artificial intelligence is helping meteorologists make more accurate forecasts, including for difficult-to-predict hurricanes. The US National Hurricane Center began using Google DeepMind’s AI model last year and is working with the company on its successor. DeepMind research scientist Ferran Alet said Google uses the same model for hurricanes as it does for everyday weather, pushing that model to its limits. The article notes that AI data centers use energy that can drive fossil fuel use and contribute to climate change. Human forecasters still make the decisions.

Amazon Could Face Italy Trial Over 1.5 Million Imports

Italian prosecutors say Amazon’s European unit and two managers could face trial over more than 1.5 million non-EU products sold through its Italian operations. They allege the sales lacked proper import VAT and customs duties. Prosecutors have counted more than €3.52 million in unpaid import VAT, while customs officials are still calculating the duties. The case follows police raids last November at Amazon’s Milan headquarters and a logistics hub near Bergamo.

D.C. Restaurants Face Backlash Over AI Food Ads

Restaurants in Washington, D.C., are using AI-generated food images in ads, drawing complaints from residents who worry the images may mislead customers. Advertising lawyer Libby O’Neill said AI food images are not automatically illegal, but they could violate the law if they greatly misrepresent a product’s quality or amount. Food photographer Scott Suchman criticized the images, while council member Christina Henderson said proposals to protect creative workers should be considered case by case. The article says the D.C. Council is not expected to target AI food ads, leaving public criticism as a way to push back.

ValueSelling Introduces AI Deal Simulation for Sales Kickoffs

ValueSelling Associates launched Dynamo, an AI deal simulation designed for sales kickoffs. The company says many kickoff events focus on products and strategy but give too little time to sales skills and real buyer conversations. Dynamo aims to make training more interactive and engaging through simulation and gamification. ValueSelling president and CEO Julie Thomas said sales teams need to learn how to sell as well as what to sell.

CareSource Offers $1 Million for Responsible Health AI

Nonprofit health insurer CareSource is launching a $1 million grant program for organizations and startups developing AI tools for healthcare. The program will support work in predictive analytics, natural language processing and clinical decision support. CareSource aims to back responsible AI that can improve patient outcomes and lower healthcare costs. CEO David Feinbro said the company believes AI could transform healthcare if developers build and use it responsibly. CareSource has also partnered with groups including the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center on AI solutions.

OpenAI Revenue Hits $10 Billion as Losses Top Anthropic’s

OpenAI’s quarterly revenue rose about 50 percent to $10 billion, but the company reported an adjusted operating loss of $10.9 billion. Anthropic recorded $17 billion in revenue over the same period and an operating loss of $567 million. OpenAI is cutting prices and pursuing more enterprise customers as it tries to close the gap. ChatGPT has 1.2 billion weekly active users and 100 million paying subscribers, after 22 million new sign-ups.

Sources

• Oura Pays $625M Cash for AI Care Firm Counsel; Sales Up 153%
• Oura Buys AI Firm Counsel Health in $625 Million Deal
• AI Bots Do the Shopping and Fraudsters Do the Stealing. Riskified Steps In.
• Tech Helps Jacksonville, Fla., Save Thousands of Work Hours
• AI sharpens hurricane forecasts, but humans still call the shots
• Amazon Faces Possible Italy Trial Over 1.5M Import Sales
• The Only Thing Stopping D.C. Restaurants From Using AI Ads? Shame.
• ValueSelling Launches Dynamo, an AI Deal Simulation for Sales Kickoffs
• CareSource launches $1M grant program to support AI-powered solutions
• Enterprise sales push OpenAI's quarterly revenue to $10 billion, though it still trails Anthropic