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US-based healthcare information technology company Healthcare Triangle (HCTI) has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Malaysia-based AI World to establish a joint venture focused on bringing AI-enabled humanoid nursing robots to hospitals and clinical settings across North America.
Under the proposed agreement, the companies intend to form a new joint venture company that would hold the intellectual property and distribution rights for the robots in North America. HCTI is expected to hold a 70% ownership interest in the joint venture while AI World would hold the remaining 30%.
Healthcare Triangle plans to leverage its network of more than 140 hospital relationships to support the introduction of the robots, subject to obtaining the required regulatory approvals and clearances.
According to the companies, the robots are designed to function as AI nursing assistants, supporting patient toileting and the related cleaning and hygiene care. These tasks are among the most physically demanding and time-consuming responsibilities in inpatient care and can also be particularly sensitive for patients.
The technology will perform this work under the supervision of clinical staff, with the aim of giving nurses more time for direct patient care, reducing the risk of caregiver injury, and supporting consistent, dignified hygiene care.
“Hospitals are under intense pressure from staffing shortages and clinician burnout, and toileting and hygiene care is a heavy part of that workload,” said Suresh Venkatachari, Founder of Healthcare Triangle.
“Together with AI World, we intend to bring a practical, AI-enabled solution to the clinicians and patients we already serve. Our hospital relationships give us a direct path to pilot and deploy this technology responsibly, with patient dignity and safety at the centre,” he added.
The initiative comes amid ongoing concerns over healthcare workforce shortages. The World Health Organization (WHO) has estimated a global shortage of 4.5 million nurses by 2030. Against this backdrop, healthcare providers are increasingly exploring automation and robotics to support clinical workflows, reduce physically demanding workloads, and ease administrative burdens on healthcare staff.
In the US, the Health Resources and Services Administration has projected an 8% shortage of registered nurses in 2028.
How the proposed joint venture will work
Under the proposed arrangement, Healthcare Triangle is expected to lead funding efforts for the venture and oversee manufacturing arrangements, sales, distribution and marketing of the robots through its network of hospital and healthcare-provider clients.
AI World is expected to provide technical expertise, technology transfer and manufacturing support to ensure the robots are produced according to its specifications and quality standards, along with ongoing engineering and software support.
The companies plan to seek the necessary regulatory approvals and conduct clinical validation, including pilot deployments with hospital clients, before any commercial rollout. Privacy and data security requirements, including compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), are also expected to be incorporated into the programme.
The MOU is non-binding, except for certain provisions, including those relating to exclusivity and confidentiality. Formation of the joint venture remains subject to due diligence, negotiation and execution of definitive agreements, board and other required approvals, and applicable regulatory clearances.
The companies expect to negotiate definitive agreements over the coming months. However, there is no assurance that a definitive agreement will be reached or that the proposed joint venture or the robots will ultimately be developed, approved or commercialised.
AI World specialises in information technology, artificial intelligence and humanoid robotics, with a focus on applying AI and humanoid robotics across areas including education, industry, healthcare, research and public engagement.
