Optum, a health services company under UnitedHealth Group, and Google Cloud announced an expanded collaboration on April 30, 2026, to leverage artificial intelligence for reducing administrative costs in health plans. The partnership aims to streamline processes such as claims processing, prior authorization, and member services using Google's AI and machine learning technologies.
According to the announcement, the initiative will focus on deploying generative AI tools to automate repetitive tasks, improve accuracy, and speed up decision-making. Optum will integrate Google Cloud's Vertex AI and other AI platforms into its existing healthcare operations.
This expansion builds on a previous collaboration between the two companies. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. The move is part of a broader industry trend to use AI to cut administrative waste, which accounts for a significant portion of U.S. healthcare spending.
