What if the future of GI isn’t just about scopes and procedures—but about rewiring the gut-brain connection itself?
Dr. Brennan Spiegel, a physician, researcher, and author at the forefront of digital therapeutics, is challenging everything we know about gastroenterology. From virtual reality (VR) reshaping IBS treatment to AI rewriting the role of physicians, he sees the gut not just as an organ—but as an entire unexplored universe.
In this conversation, he unpacks what the gut-brain axis is, why GIs are falling behind in microbiome research, and how gravity itself could be influencing gut health in ways we’ve never considered. He also dives into AI—how it’s extending human capabilities while simultaneously shrinking cognitive function, and what this means for the future of medicine.
This isn’t just another conversation about the future of GI. It’s a wake-up call. Are we evolving with technology, or is technology evolving us? Let’s find out
Top 10 Takeaways from Dr. Brennan Spiegel’s Interview:
- Virtual reality (VR) is transforming GI care – VR has been shown to alter cortisol levels, body temperature, and even immune responses, offering a new frontier for pain management and IBS treatment.
- The gut-brain-microbiome axis is real – The vagus nerve plays a critical role in two-way communication between the brain, gut, and microbiome, influencing motility, mood, and immune function.
- Startups, not GIs, are leading microbiome research – Despite its massive potential in GI, microbiome innovation is being driven by startups rather than physicians, creating a disconnect between research and clinical practice.
- Your gut is a universe – The microbiome is vast and largely unexplored, with a complexity comparable to the cosmos or human consciousness. Understanding it could shape the future of medicine.
- The microbiome is central to total human health – With 90-95% of serotonin produced in the gut, the microbiome affects not just digestion but also mental health, immune function, and chronic disease.
- Gravity is shaping human health in ways we don’t realize – In his new book Pull: How Gravity Shapes Your Body, Steadies the Mind, and Guides Our Health, Dr. Spiegel introduces bio gravitational medicine, explaining how conditions from IBS to depression may be linked to our relationship with gravity.
- AI knows you better than you know yourself – AI is not just replacing tasks—it’s reshaping human thought and behavior, raising concerns about our increasing reliance on digital intelligence.
- Human cognitive abilities are shrinking – Just like our motor skills did with machines and much like how automation reduced our physical activity, AI may cause us to lose skills like memory, navigation, and decision-making.
- AI is both extending and shrinking the role of GIs – AI will enhance diagnostics, automation, and decision-making, but it will also reduce the need for traditional expertise in many areas, shifting physicians’ roles.
- To stay relevant in the AI age, embrace technology but master human skills – The future of medicine will favor empathetic, wise, and adaptable physicians. AI won’t replace doctors, but doctors who use AI will replace those who don’t.