Why Is the New York Times Laundering the Reputation of a Sleazy AI Startup That’s Selling GLP-1s via a Dishonest Dumpster Fire of Fake Doctors, Phony Before-and-After Pictures, and Other Glaring Red Flags?
TL;DR
Futurism accuses the New York Times of giving uncritical positive coverage to AI startup Medvi, which sells GLP-1 weight-loss drugs through an automated prescription system.
Key Points
- Medvi allegedly uses fake doctor profiles, manipulated before-and-after photos, and deceptive marketing practices.
- Critics label the model bluntly as an 'automated GLP-1 prescription mill' lacking genuine medical oversight.
- The NYT piece reportedly ignored these red flags entirely, framing the startup as an innovative healthcare solution.
Nauti's Take
The real scandal here is not the startup – prescription mills have always existed. The problem is the NYT apparently doing zero due diligence before platforming Medvi.
When 'AI in healthcare' passes as a quality signal without anyone asking whether real doctors are actually involved, journalism has failed its basic function. Futurism's callout is a reminder of how desperately the AI hype cycle needs adversarial reporting – especially in domains where patient safety is on the line.