The Unpredictability of AI In Healthcare

 Jillian Olear

Prof. John Horgan 

HST 401A Seminar in Science Writing- Paper #4

9 March 2026

I pledge my honor that I have abided by the Stevens Honor System.

The Unpredictability of AI In Healthcare

One of my favorite television shows right now is The Pitt. It’s a medical drama that illustrates a day in the emergency room, where each episode is an hour of the day shift. One of the major plotlines right now centers around technology in healthcare. Not only is the hospital’s internet currently shut down because of threats of a cyber attack, but the new attending doctor wants to implement AI into the charting and onboarding processes for patients. Which isn’t being received well by the rest of the team at all. Through this, the show is representing one of the largest questions in healthcare right now, highlighting the debate on if AI should be used in healthcare, and if so, to what extent.

The use of artificial intelligence in multiple fields has rapidly increased since its introduction into society, with one of the most prominent applications being in the medical field. In an article on AI in Healthcare, AI is generally used in healthcare to enhance medical decision making, improve patient outcomes, and optimize hospital operations (John 2025). There are several methods being utilized. For example, there are AI algorithms designed to organize and extract patient medical history, analyze data about a case, and help doctors identify risks. Additionally, some wearable devices and monitors have AI integration to help collect measurements and levels, and AI applications like chatbots and virtual assistants have been implemented to streamline scheduling and collect data. All of these have proven to benefit both patients and healthcare workers in the ways of reduced cost of care, better decision making, improved operational efficiency, better doctor-patient relationships, earlier and more accurate diagnoses, reduced human error and clinical burnout, and enhanced accessibility and continuity of care. So, what’s the problem?

Despite the improvements in the healthcare system by the implementation of AI systems, there are a number of challenges that concern medical professionals and hinder processes. From a clinical aspect, some of the main issues pertain to transparency, explainability, validation, usability, and liability (Koski 2022). It’s been demonstrated in many instances that physicians are skeptical when it comes to using AI due to its lack of information validation or proof of where the data is being obtained from. There are concerns relating to patient information privacy, as well as equity and fairness. Just the integration of AI alone is a concern. Despite the generational shift occurring in younger patients being accustomed to digital life, integrating AI into general care can be tough for those lacking technological skills. 

Both the benefits and challenges caused by AI in healthcare have left many physicians fearful, specifically in regards to being replaced or losing their job because of AI capabilities. While the future remains unclear, the article “Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare: Past, Present, and Future” highlights the prediction that doctors will not be replaced by artificial intelligence. Instead, AI has the potential to assist physicians in making better clinical decisions or replace their judgement in certain situations, such as in sectors relating to imaging and test results. With proper AI training techniques and information, the technology could prove to be one of the largest breakthroughs in modern medicine (Jiang et al 2017). However, it is uncertain as to what extent it could be implemented, as well as how it would be regulated. In an article published by The Harvard Gazette, it is stated that the regulation of AI in the medical field is both challenging and complex, specifically in regards to the legal and ethical issues posed (Powell 2026). It is unclear as to how this will be streamlined, factoring into the lack of predictability of AI’s role in healthcare. 

There’s many directions in which the use of AI in the medical field could go. As much as it’s analyzed, at the end of the day, no one can truly predict the future of the technology’s role in healthcare. Much like how I can’t predict what’s going to happen next on The Pitt. 














Works Cited

Jiang, Fei, et al. “Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare: Past, Present and Future.” Stroke and Vascular Neurology, vol. 2, no. 4, 21 June 2017, pp. 230–243, https://doi.org/10.1136/svn-2017-000101.

John, Juliet. “AI in Healthcare: Uses, Examples, and Benefits.” Jotform, 20 Nov. 2025, www.jotform.com/ai/ai-in-healthcare/?utm_source=chatgpt.com. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.

Koski, Eileen. “Nurses and Midwives in the Digital Age.” Google Books, 2022, books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=0tluEAAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PA295&dq=use+of+AI+in+healthcare&ots=Kl70n7qLIg&sig=a-AEdQOr4Nf9JST0-gBYJfYz5-E#v=onepage&q=use%20of%20AI%20in%20healthcare&f=false. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.

Powell, Alvin. “AI Is Speeding into Healthcare. Who Should Regulate It?” Harvard Gazette, 12 Jan. 2026, news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2026/01/ai-is-speeding-into-healthcare-who-should-regulate-it/.

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