Zocdoc CEO: "Dr. Google is going to be replaced by Dr. AI"

Decoder with Nilay Patel

Vox Media Podcast Network

Technology, Business

4.3 • 3.2K Ratings

🗓️ 20 October 2025

⏱️ 70 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Hey everyone, it’s Nilay. I’m back from parental leave, and I’m really excited to jump back into Decoder. Today’s episode is a special one: I’m talking to Zocdoc CEO Oliver Kharraz, and we chatted live on stage at the TechFutures conference in New York City. You’re almost certainly familiar with ZocDoc — it’s a platform that helps people find and book appointments with doctors. It’s a classic of the early app economy. The big difference is that Zocdoc plugs into the U.S. healthcare system, which is of course a giant mess, and that means Zocdoc has a big moat. So we talked about competition, navigating the US healthcare system, and, of course, what AI is doing to medicine. Read the full transcript on The Verge. Links: "Superhuman" AI could transform medicine, Zocdoc CEO says | Axios How AI is changing your doctors appointments | Fast Company This Strategy ‘Nearly Killed’ Zocdoc. | Inc. Zocdoc Turns 18 | Oliver Kharraz / LinkedIn Meet Zo, the AI Phone Assistant for healthcare | Zocdoc Credits: Decoder is a production of The Verge and part of the Vox Media Podcast Network. Our producers are Kate Cox and Nick Statt. Our editor is Ursa Wright. The Decoder music is by Breakmaster Cylinder. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	Support for this show comes from OnePassword. If you're an IT or security pro, managing devices,
0:08.3	identities, and applications can feel overwhelming and risky. Trellica by OnePassword helps
0:14.8	conquer SaaS sprawl and Shadow IT by discovering every app your team uses, managed or not. Take the first step to better security
0:23.2	for your team. Learn more at onepassword.com slash podcast offer. That's onepassword.com
0:31.8	slash podcast offer, all lowercase. When was the last time you felt in control of your business finances?
0:40.6	Expenses tracked, invoices sent, taxes ready?
0:43.6	That's where Found comes in.
0:45.1	Found brings your banking, bookkeeping, invoicing, and taxes together in one simple app.
0:50.0	Manage expenses, invoice clients, send payments, and prep for tax time right where you bank.
0:54.7	Join the hundreds of thousands who have already streamlined their finances with found.
0:58.5	Open a found account for free at found.com.
1:01.1	That's fowundd.com.
1:03.1	Found is a financial technology company, not a bank.
1:04.8	Banking services provided by lead bank member FDIC.
1:07.0	The world is changing faster than ever.
1:09.3	Now, with The Economist Insider, a new premium video offering, we're giving you unprecedented access to the debates shaping our world. I have set around that table at NATO. There is an incoming missile attack now. Could you answer the question? I'm sorry, we've got way little time left. With a few surprises along the way. I can't promise we'll have a cocktail every time, but we'll try.
1:28.2	So, don't just be an Economist reader.
1:30.5	Get on the inside track with The Economist Insider.
1:33.3	Go to Economist.com to join the conversation.
1:39.0	Hello and welcome to Decoder.
1:40.4	I'm Nilai Patel, editor-in-chief of The Verge,
1:41.9	and Decoder is my show about big ideas and other problems.
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Vox Media Podcast Network, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Vox Media Podcast Network and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.