LSN : News : AI physiotherapy clinic halves waiting time for back pain treatment

The Future Laboratory unveils Innovation Debrief 2025–2026 at Breakfast Briefing

The Future Laboratory, UK

UK – The Future Laboratory, alongside the team behind its trends intelligence platform LS:N Global, hosted its quarterly members-only Breakfast Briefing at The Roof Gardens on Tuesday 5 August 2025.

Members and guests were given a snapshot of 50 trends from the new Innovation Debrief 2025–2026 report – from collagen-infused jeans to sake tested in space. The event also offered refreshments and networking in the London social club’s private roof garden.

As part of their subscription, LS:N Global members receive exclusive access to these quarterly in-person events, where analysts share the most valuable insights from the latest macrotrend reports.

For early access to our reports and events, become a member today.

Innovation Debrief 2025–2026 is also available for purchase via The Future Laboratory’s online shop.

AI physiotherapy clinic halves waiting time for back pain treatment

UK – A 12-week NHS pilot of Flok Health’s AI-powered physiotherapy clinic has cut waiting lists for back pain by 55% and overall musculoskeletal waits by 44% in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.

The app-based service, built on video of a human physiotherapist, offers same-day automated consultations, freeing 856 clinician hours each month. Patient feedback highlights flexibility and intuitive use, with some rating it equal to or better than private treatment.

The results position AI-run clinics as a scalable model for alleviating healthcare bottlenecks. Yet the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy warns that reliance on app-based care could exclude those without digital access and that addressing recruitment freezes remains key to sustainable improvement.

With a national roll-out planned, the trial offers a live test case for how AI can augment the human workforce while accelerating access to essential care.

These findings echo insights from our Viva Technology 2025: Decoding a Decisive Moment for Tech report, which highlights AI’s growing role in bridging healthcare gaps and serving underserved populations through scalable, tech-enabled care models.

AI imagery by The Future Laboratory, UK

Strategic opportunity

Prototype AI-assisted service models that replicate expert care at scale, combining flexible scheduling, real-time feedback and seamless escalation to human specialists to boost efficiency, inclusivity and user trust

Stat: Young US adults turn to AI for daily brainstorms

AI imagery by The Future Laboratory, UK

US – About six in 10 US adults under 30 have used AI to come up with ideas, compared with just two in 10 of those aged 60 or older, according to a study by AP-NORC.

The poll, which sampled 1,437 US adults, found that younger users are also more likely to tap AI for brainstorming on a daily basis.

Overall, 60% of US adults – and 74% of under-30s – use AI to search for information, but only about four in 10 Americans use it for work tasks, highlighting that AI’s productivity potential remains unevenly realised.

Other uses include email drafting, image editing, entertainment and shopping, while AI companionship is rare, with fewer than 20% trying it.

The survey underlines how generational divides are shaping AI adoption – with younger Americans weaving it into both their personal and professional routines.

For more insights on the brand opportunities, marketing and retail strategies shaping the future of consumer-facing, AI-driven tech, explore our AI topic.

Strategic opportunity

Design AI tools and campaigns that cater for younger consumers’ appetite for daily idea generation, embedding creative prompts, co-creation features and rapid iteration