ProjectLeo, the First Private AI Health Platform to Declare Independence From Big Tech

The first health AI built to serve the patients and caregivers using it, with zero conflict of interest.

CHICAGO, Nov. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- ProjectLeo declared its independence from large-scale AI players today, launching the first multilingual health AI built to belong only to the patient, without influence or pressure from Big Tech, hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, or insurers. Roughly one in three US adults already use AI chatbots for at least one health-related reason, according to a 2026 Pew Research Center survey. ProjectLeo was built to meet that demand in an ethical, secure way, in the patient's best interest.

Leo2.0, ProjectLeo's proprietary AI model, was trained to support patients and caregivers through the complexities of the American healthcare system such as interpreting an insurance denial, decoding a lab report, or explaining a new diagnosis. All patient data remains on ProjectLeo's infrastructure, never in the hands of large institutions or advertisers. Leo serves our users' interests, not those of the institutions that were meant to serve them.

For National Family Caregivers Month, ProjectLeo is launching a campaign for family and friends helping someone through medical care. Throughout November, users can redeem 3 months of LeoPlus free using code LEOCARES at checkout to get help understanding medical paperwork, preparing appointment questions, drafting insurance appeal letters, and more. Terms & conditions apply.

That independence comes as just a few companies hold substantial control over healthcare. CVS Health, Cigna, and UnitedHealth Group, through their subsidiaries, handled 79% of U.S. prescription drug claims in 2023, according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The American Medical Association (AMA) found that a single insurer held at least half the commercial health insurance market in 47% of U.S. metropolitan areas in 2024. A conservative ProjectLeo analysis of AMA data and U.S. Census population estimates puts the combined population of those areas at more than 70 million residents.

"Every other health AI has someone else's incentives built in, whether that be a hospital's, an insurer's, or a shareholder's. Leo serves patients and caregivers, that's it. That's the whole model," said Charlie Alfarah, Founder and CEO of ProjectLeo. "We're here to be there for you or a loved one in navigating one of the most complicated institutions that you or someone you know is forced to deal with."

Leo2.0 is rigorously trained on data crafted to reflect the real diversity of the healthcare system while also acknowledging the existence of medical biases in publicly available datasets. That includes every major insurance type, 13 languages, a range of health-literacy levels, caregivers, rural patients, people managing chronic illness, and more. All synthetic, none of it sourced from real patient records or protected health information (PHI). Scenarios are assessed in alignment with patient advocacy standards and clear, strict safety gates before being used in training Leo. That explicitly means—without exception—no diagnosing, no changing medication, and no legal advice. A human reviewer also samples scores for proper justification. The responses are then run through external and internal quality control to ensure the safety and security of the user. If a scenario ever turns into an emergency, abuse, or a mental health crisis, Leo names the risk and points straight to help through 911, 988, or local resources.

The option of connecting patient records gives Leo the full picture, pulled in through a secure and private integration with more than 70,000 providers nationwide. No faxing. No hunting down five different patient portals. Just a few minutes, and Leo has what it needs to help right away.

Here's what it might look like in practice for a real patient. Someone gets a new diagnosis that buries them in paperwork they don't understand. They simply share their diagnosis, and Leo's Educator mode walks them through what it means in plain language, while Coordinator mode pulls together a list of questions and next steps to bring to their next appointment. Analyst mode jumps in to make sense of the tests and paperwork. When an insurance claim inevitably gets denied, Leo enters Ally mode. Simply upload the denial letter and Leo works with the patient to draft a personalized appeal letter in minutes, infused with the unique details of an individual's records.

ProjectLeo is available in a free tier, Leo, and a paid tier, LeoPlus which adds insurance appeal support, document storage, and unlimited chat for those who need extra support. Patient data does not leave ProjectLeo at either tier, ever.

To ensure the strongest level of data protection for users, ProjectLeo voluntarily holds itself to the same privacy and security standards that govern hospitals and insurers.

Leo is available on the web and the App Store.

Leo provides health information and guidance, but does not replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider about your health concerns.

About ProjectLeo

ProjectLeo is an independent AI health support company based in Chicago, built for patients and the people who care for them. Its AI, Leo, helps people understand health information, prepare for appointments, and navigate insurance paperwork, including drafting appeal letters they can review and share. Founded by Charlie Alfarah, ProjectLeo develops its own AI with patient understanding, privacy, and independence at the center. The company is privately held and does not sell patient data. Leo is available on the web and iOS, with free and paid plans. Learn more at projectleo.ai.

Media Contact

Charlie Alfarah, MEd, CDP
Founder & CEO, ProjectLeo
media@projectleo.ai
312.883.4595
projectleo.ai

SOURCE ProjectLeo LLC