The operating room is one of the most high-stakes environments in healthcare, where precision and efficiency are critical. Leading the revolution in AI-driven surgical workflows is Abbes Seqqat, Chief Executive Officer of RAIN Technology. His journey began in AI innovation at IBM Watson in 2012, and today he is pioneering AI solutions that enhance surgical precision, reduce clinician workload, and improve patient outcomes.
At RAIN, Abbes spearheads ORVA, an AI-powered surgical voice assistant designed to streamline workflows, manage documentation, and optimize coordination in the operating room. ORVA acts as an intelligent team member, reducing administrative burdens so that surgeons can focus entirely on patient care.
Beyond technology, Abbes is driving RAIN’s collaboration with governments and healthcare institutions to support the shift to value-based care. His human-centered approach ensures that AI is co-developed with medical professionals, integrating seamlessly into clinical environments.
Abbes firmly believes AI should augment, not replace, healthcare professionals. He leads RAIN in revolutionizing AI-driven surgery, enhancing efficiency, reducing costs, and improving patient care across the healthcare system.
Let’s delve into the interview details below!
How is RAIN Technology transforming healthcare with voice AI, and what makes it unique?
ORVA, the operating room AI voice assistant, is our one-of-a-kind and first voice AI-enabled Surgical Workflow platform. It drives perioperative efficiency and improves care quality by allowing clinicians to focus more on patients while outsourcing surgical documentation to AI. We also help providers optimize OT utilization, enhance revenue cycle management, and reduce uncompensated care—all of which directly impact their bottom line. Lastly, ORVA provides hospital administrators with real-time data insights, enabling them to assess their organization’s health and take corrective actions on the fly.
How will “ORVA,” your AI assistant for the operating room, improve surgical workflows?
The operating room is a high-stress, high-stakes environment where coordination is essential. We believe that having ORVA in the operating room is like having an additional clinician dedicated to streamlining operations, managing administrative and compliance tasks, providing best practice reminders and alerts for surgical teams, and, most importantly, documenting procedures in real time.
We have developed a set of agentic AI-enabled workflows that automate key processes, including consumable replenishment, reactive equipment maintenance, pre-op surgical checklists, revenue cycle management documentation, and real-time insurance pre-approvals.
Today, providers often lose revenue due to suboptimal inventory management, equipment downtime, last-minute surgery cancellations, and delays in insurance reimbursements. ORVA helps address these challenges, improving both operational efficiency and financial outcomes.
Why did you choose Abu Dhabi for RAIN’s expansion, and what role does the UAE play in AI-driven healthcare innovation?
Abu Dhabi was a strategic choice for RAIN’s expansion due to its commitment to AI, healthcare, and innovation. The UAE is a global leader in AI-driven healthcare transformation, making it the ideal hub for RAIN.
- Government Vision & Support – The UAE’s national AI and digital health strategy, backed by strong regulations and investments, aligns with RAIN’s mission.
- World-Class Healthcare Ecosystem – Abu Dhabi hosts leading hospitals, research centers, and investors, providing a strong environment to develop and deploy AI solutions like ORVA.
- Access to Global Talent & Partnerships – The UAE attracts top AI researchers and clinicians, fostering rapid innovation.
- Strategic Location & Market Reach – Abu Dhabi enables expansion across the Middle East, Africa, and beyond, driving global AI-driven surgical advancements.
With visionary leadership, cutting-edge infrastructure, and openness to innovation, Abu Dhabi is the perfect place for RAIN to scale and shape the future of AI in healthcare.
What are the biggest challenges in integrating AI into healthcare, and how is RAIN overcoming them?
Integrating AI into healthcare comes with several challenges, but at RAIN, we see these as opportunities to drive meaningful change. The biggest hurdles include:
- Regulatory & Compliance Barriers – AI must meet strict healthcare regulations. RAIN ensures ORVA complies with global standards, focusing on data security and patient safety.
- Clinical Adoption & Trust – AI should augment, not replace, medical professionals. ORVA is co-developed with surgeons to integrate seamlessly into workflows.
- Data Privacy & Security – AI relies on sensitive data. RAIN uses a security-first cloud with encryption, access controls, and compliance with privacy laws.
- Integration with Existing Systems – ORVA is designed to work smoothly with hospital EMRs, minimizing disruptions.
- Demonstrating ROI & Clinical Impact – Hospitals need measurable benefits. ORVA improves efficiency, patient outcomes, and decision-making, thus proving its value.
At RAIN, we take a collaborative and pragmatic approach to overcoming these challenges. By ensuring AI is safe, useful and seamlessly integrated, we’re driving a future where technology enhances, not replaces, the expertise of medical professionals.
How do you ensure AI solutions like ORVA support, rather than replace, healthcare professionals?
At RAIN, AI is designed to augment healthcare professionals, not replace them. ORVA enhances efficiency, accuracy, and decision-making in high-stakes environments like the operating room.
- Designed for Clinical Collaboration – ORVA acts as a voice-activated surgical assistant, providing real-time insights and reducing surgeons’ burdens without making independent medical decisions.
- Human in the Loop AI – ORVA offers recommendations and automates routine tasks, but final decisions always rest with clinicians.
- Enhancing Efficiency, Not Replacing Expertise – ORVA minimizes administrative tasks like retrieving EMR data and preparing reports, allowing surgeons to focus on patient care.
- Continuous Learning from Medical Experts – Developed with direct feedback from surgeons and anesthesiologists, ORVA evolves to meet real-world clinical needs.
- Ethical & Responsible AI Development – ORVA prioritizes transparency, accountability, and patient safety, ensuring AI remains a trusted and patient-centric tool.
By taking this approach, ORVA supports rather than replaces medical professionals, enhancing surgical precision and improving patient outcomes.
What exciting innovations or partnerships is RAIN working on to advance healthcare AI?
Our next phase is to partner with the healthcare government, and insurance entities recommend ORVA as the golden standard for surgical perfection. We are also working with multiple digital OR medical device companies to find synergies.
In terms of innovation, we’re pushing the healthcare industry boundaries by introducing cutting-edge/disruptive ways to interact with ORVA beyond just voice. Mixed reality/virtual reality proofs of concept are being piloted with leading hospitals. We expect to roll this out to the market in the next few months.
What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs in healthcare technology?
For aspiring entrepreneurs in healthcare technology, my biggest advice is to focus on impact, not just innovation. Most governments are pushing for value-based care, which relies on technological advancements to impact clinical costs. Healthcare is a complex, high-stakes industry where technology must do more than just impress; it must solve real problems, integrate seamlessly into clinical workflows, and improve patient outcomes. Here are a few lessons we learned that may be valuable to fellow healthcare executives:
- Solve a Real Problem – Understand key pain points like clinician burnout, patient safety, or operational inefficiencies.
- Collaborate with Clinicians from Day One – Co-develop solutions with doctors, nurses, and administrators to ensure adoption.
- Build with Compliance & Security in Mind – Meet HIPAA, GDPR, FDA, or MHRA standards to ensure scalability.
- Focus on Seamless Integration – Ensure compatibility with existing EMRs and IT infrastructures to minimize workflow disruptions.
- Demonstrate ROI Early – Show measurable benefits like cost savings, efficiency gains, and improved patient outcomes.
- Be Patient but Persistent – Healthcare moves slowly due to regulations, but proving value leads to rapid adoption.
- Think Globally, Start Small – Begin in one hospital or region, refine your solution, and then scale worldwide.
The intersection of AI and healthcare is one of the most exciting and meaningful spaces to innovate. If you stay committed to building solutions that truly help patients and clinicians, your impact will go far beyond just technology; it will change and even save lives.
