Everywhere you turn in healthcare you’re seeing AI. I know some people would argue with how many companies define AI. In fact, there’s no doubt that AI has started to be used for everything from simple analytics to machine learning to neural networks to true artificial intelligence. I don’t personally get worked up in the definitions of various words since I think all of these things can and will benefit healthcare. Regardless of definition, what’s clear is that this broad definition of AI is going to have a big impact on healthcare.
In a recent tweet from David Chou, he shared a really interesting look at AI adoption in healthcare as compared with other industries. The healthcare AI maturity index also looks at where healthcare’s AI trajectory is headed in the next 3 years. Check out the details in the chart below:
Maturity index of #AI adoption #ceo#cio#cdo pic.twitter.com/KUUtGpG6ja
— David Chou (@dchou1107) October 16, 2018
There are a couple of things that concern me about this chart. First, it shows that healthcare is behind other industries when it comes to AI adoption. That’s not too surprising since healthcare is usually pretty risk averse with new technology. The “First Do No Harm” is an important part of the healthcare culture that scares many away from technology like AI. The only question is will this culture prevent helpful new AI technologies from coming to healthcare.
Many people would look at the chart and see that it projects a lot of growth in healthcare AI investment. That’s a good thing, but it also is a common pattern in healthcare. Lots of anticipation and hope that never fully realizes. Will we see the same in healthcare AI?
What’s been your experiences with AI in healthcare? Where do you see AI having the most impact right now? What companies are doing AI that’s going to impact your hospital or health system? Share your thoughts in the comments or on social media with @healthcarescene.
