In recent years, there has been an increasing use of AI in healthcare. During a panel at the Milken Institute 2024 Global Conference, health care leaders discussed the potential benefits and limitations of this technology. They emphasized the importance of developers and health systems considering the limitations of AI to prevent harm to patients.
One example of how AI is being used in healthcare is through Healthvana’s conversational AI chatbot for patients dealing with sexually transmitted infections. The chatbot offers quick answers to questions through two available personas: a standard AI persona or a drag queen persona. To their surprise, the drag queen persona proved to be more engaging for patients, with 80% of people choosing this option. Healthvana CEO Ramin Bastani noted that patients enjoyed the comments that came from the drag queen persona.
It’s important for developers and health systems to keep in mind that while AI can offer many benefits, it should not be viewed as a replacement for human care. Instead, we should explore the possibilities that AI can offer while keeping patient safety as our top priority. To access more exclusive content and stay informed about the latest developments in healthcare technology, readers can subscribe to STAT+.