What if you could build your own AI tool in less than an hour?
In this groundbreaking episode of Power Hour, Eugene Shatsman sits down with Abhi Bhattacharya to do something never before attempted on the show — build a fully functional AI voice agent live from scratch.
Abhi isn’t just another guest talking about the future of technology; he’s been shaping it. From his work developing Amazon Alexa and advancing healthcare AI at AthenaHealth, to leading AI innovation within VSP Vision, Abhi has spent his career turning ambitious ideas into practical, usable tools that make businesses more efficient and customers more connected.
Together, Eugene and Abhi take on a challenge: to prove that creating AI for optometry doesn’t have to take years, massive budgets, or specialized developers — it just takes imagination, the right tools, and a willingness to start.
This episode takes listeners behind the curtain of real-time AI development. Eugene and Abhi build an AI voice agent capable of calling patients to confirm appointments, showing just how accessible today’s AI tools have become — even for private practices.
As they build, they explore bigger questions about the role of AI in eye care:
- How can practices use AI to improve patient experience without losing the human touch?
- What does “practical AI” actually look like in optometry offices?
- And how can innovation fuel new revenue streams while reducing everyday operational headaches?
Listeners will also hear a live moment when the AI system calls Eugene on the show, demonstrating how far these tools have come — and how close they are to being deployable in real practice settings.
Key Takeaways
- AI in Action: A real-time demo showing how a voice AI agent can automate appointment confirmations.
- From Concept to Code: A step-by-step breakdown of how AI can be built quickly and affordably for eye care.
- Practical Innovation: How AI can drive patient satisfaction, reduce administrative time, and open new sources of revenue.
- The Future of Optometric Efficiency: Why the next frontier of practice growth is rooted in smart, scalable automation.
- Audience Challenge: Share your feedback with Eugene — your ideas will shape what AI tool they build next, live on an upcoming episode.
In This Episode
- 00:00 | Intro
- 03:19 | Abhi’s AI Background & Experience
- 07:41 | Two Problems We’ll Solve: Appointment Calls & Staff Trainer Idea
- 12:23 | How We’ll Build It: Tools, Prompts, & The Live Approach
- 24:12 | EHR & Workflow Realities: Reschedules, Logic, and Guardrails
- 37:15 | Tech Flow For This AI Tool
- 47:51 | Live Demonstration On Eugene
- 49:35 | Iterations & Improving AI Performance
- 55:42 | Episode Wrap-up: Next Steps For Audience
Contact Information
Connect with Abhi Bhattacharya
Abhi Bhattacharya has a background that bridges consumer technology and healthcare innovation, Abhi previously contributed to scaling AI capabilities at Amazon, where he worked on Alexa, and at athenahealth, where he advanced data-driven tools for provider networks and patient outcomes. This unique blend of experience allows him to apply lessons from some of the world’s most advanced AI ecosystems to the specific needs of healthcare and eye care.
Through his work at both VSP Vision and Veritas Labs, Abhi continues to shape the intersection of artificial intelligence, healthcare innovation, and human-centered design, inspiring a new generation of professionals to see AI as an accessible ally in improving care delivery.
Connect with Eugene Shatsman (Managing Partner, NSG)
Website – https://www.eugeneshatsman.com/
LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/eugeneshatsman