Tech expert and entrepreneur, Temitope Fatunmbi is leading a pioneering effort to merge artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and traditional medicine, creating a novel approach to global healthcare systems

Through her company Hustle, Fatunmbi has developed a quantum-informed AI platform that models the molecular mechanisms of traditional healing practices such as African ethnobotany, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and Ayurveda. The platform simulates plant-compound interactions with proteins and neural receptors, enabling new therapeutic discoveries while preserving cultural relevance.

“We’ve spent decades building faster computers. Now it’s time to build wiser ones, “she said.

Her team recently collaborated with medical anthropologists and indigenous healers to identify new anti-inflammatory compounds derived from West African herbs. These compounds are now in preclinical trials for potential use in autoimmune treatment.

Fatunmbi who has a background in computational neuroscience and quantum systems, emphasizes that her work is not about validating traditional medicine through Western scientific frameworks, but about creating a mutual dialogue.

“This is about letting each domain speak in its own language and using AI to become a translator,” she informed.

Hustle’s health-tech division also focuses on underserved communities, developing lightweight diagnostic AI tools for use in primary care systems that rely heavily on traditional medicine.

In addition to her technical work, Fatunmbi is a published author in AI and health journals, where she advocates for ethical and inclusive systems design. Her writing explores algorithmic bias, the integration of indigenous knowledge into AI systems, and the cultural implications of technological advancement.

Fatunmbi’s work has gained traction among global health organizations and tech leaders, and she now advises institutions on how to develop integrative AI systems that reflect diverse cultural and epistemological traditions.

“Commerce and care are both built on trust.And trust comes from systems that don’t just compute, but remember, respect, and connect”, she added.

Her efforts represent a shift in the way health innovation is approached globally, where technology no longer seeks to replace traditional systems, but to work alongside them for a more inclusive, intelligent future.