Samsung is stepping into decentralized healthcare by teaming up with blockchain startup Galeon to train artificial intelligence models using data from its ultrasound devices. The partnership, announced Tuesday, integrates Samsung’s medical imaging equipment with Galeon’s electronic health record (EHR) platform, which is already active across 18 hospitals in France, including Rouen University Hospital and Caen University Hospital.

The initiative focuses on enhancing AI training while protecting patient privacy. According to Galeon CEO Loïc Brotons, the medical data itself never touches the blockchain. Instead, anonymized data is used to train algorithms, while the algorithms run onchain with complete traceability. This setup allows hospitals to maintain control of their data while benefiting from collective AI improvements across the network.

The collaboration has already shown results, with Galeon developing AI tools for automatic billing, consultation summaries, and even working on a custom speech-to-text system for doctors. Brotons highlighted that this decentralized approach enables innovation without requiring sensitive patient information to be centralized.

The move underscores the growing role of decentralized science (DeSci) in healthcare. DeSci projects have been gaining momentum, from VitaDAO’s push for longevity research to HydraDAO’s groundbreaking spinal cord study, which reported paralyzed rats walking again in just five days.

Investor interest in the sector is heating up as well. DeSci platform Bio Protocol recently raised $6.9 million from Maelstrom Fund and Animoca Brands, following earlier investment from Binance Labs. Meanwhile, competition is rising as DeSci groups seek to secure valuable genetic data, even eyeing assets from bankrupt DNA testing firm 23andMe.

Samsung’s partnership with Galeon signals a bold step for medical technology, merging blockchain, AI, and healthcare in a way that could redefine how hospitals worldwide use and share life-saving data.