AI is making significant strides in every aspect of our lives, including healthcare. Yet there’s a catch: resource limitations and skepticism continue to be a hurdle, especially when it comes to something as personal as our health.
As the aging population grows and the World Health Organization predicts a shortage of 11.1 million healthcare workers by 2030, a higher quality — and a higher quantity — of healthcare is becoming more critical every day. Can AI help to bridge the future healthcare gap? Will patients and healthcare systems trust it in time to make a difference?
Here’s a look at how AI is transforming healthcare so far and how you can become a stronger advocate so that no generation misses out due to misinformation and mistrust.
Start with real conversations to demystify AI
Technology (and AI) progress quickly, which can make some people anxious. A 2024 poll found that 74% of adults aged 50 and over would have very little or no trust in AI-generated health information.
One way to garner trust in AI is to inform family and friends about how AI is already benefitting them. When they use navigation apps to dodge traffic, stream personalized music recs, or unlock their phones with facial recognition, they’re engaging with sophisticated AI systems that adapt to their preferences.
Philips is tackling this trust barrier head-on by developing AI solutions that are transforming how patients — and doctors — look at health and deliver care. The growing list of AI-enabled health solutions points to a future where technology is more normalized, empowering everyone to live better lives.
Push for fairness and transparency in AI-driven care
Building trust in AI among patients and healthcare professionals is crucial to unlocking its full potential. Yet, AI is advancing faster than the regulations meant to govern it, raising concerns about its ethical and responsible use.
For example, AI is only as good as the data it’s trained on, making high-quality, diverse data essential to minimize errors that could impact patient health.
To establish trust, clear frameworks are needed to ensure AI is safe, ethical, and promotes equitable care. Philips has played a key role in this effort, helping to develop an AI Code of Conduct as part of the National Academy of Medicine’s Steering Committee, co-chaired by Philips CEO Roy Jakobs.
By embedding these principles into its own AI solutions, Philips is setting a standard for responsible innovation — and adaptation — in healthcare.
Embrace AI-powered preventative care
As healthcare systems face increasing strain from aging populations and workforce shortages, preventive care is becoming more important than ever. The ability to detect health issues early reduces the burden on hospitals later and improves patient outcomes. But, for AI-driven preventive care to be effective in the future, trust among healthcare professionals is essential now.
For instance, Philips offers an AI-driven platform to help doctors detect early signs of heart rhythm irregularities, a leading but often unnoticed cause of strokes. Similarly, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the company introduced a wearable device that has proven invaluable in continuously monitoring patient vitals, allowing healthcare professionals to respond proactively when a patient’s conditions worsen.
These innovations highlight AI’s potential to improve preventative care and give patients more time and better care. Ultimately, benefits like this will encourage healthcare professionals to put more trust in AI.
Make daily wellness easier with smart devices
But for AI to work, we don’t just need healthcare providers to trust it; we need patients, too. Using AI and smart gadgets in your routine is yet another way to begin building trust.
Even the act of brushing your teeth with an AI-enabled electric toothbrush can begin to normalize the use of AI when you start raving to your friends and family about your easy-breezy dental checkup.
Philips is taking the lead here, incorporating AI into everyday products in order to build a foundation of trust, starting at home. The company also offers a shaver that uses AI to reduce skin irritation and a baby monitor that uses AI to translate a baby’s sounds and body language into understandable insights into the baby’s wellbeing.
Share your wins and change minds
The more exposure and positive experiences patients and healthcare professionals have with AI in all areas of their lives, the greater chance the technology will be more widely embraced for what it is. As a vital healthcare tool, AI can help improve lives now and in the future.
You can do your part to instill trust by openly sharing your AI success stories with others. Whether you’re firing texts using your phone’s AI-powered voice assistant, asking your doctor about smarter health options, or dialing in your hygiene with an AI toothbrush, your experiences can help break through boundaries, paving the way for a future where AI plays a key role in healthcare.
Looking ahead, Philips also envisions a future where AI continues to set the dot further beyond the horizon. From AI innovations in ultrasound devices, at-home cardiac arrhythmia monitoring, and more effective cancer screenings, the future of healthcare looks promising.
