At a recent Fortune dinner conversation, in partnership with Philips, executive and senior healthcare leaders came together to explore a critical question: How do we unlock the full potential of AI in healthcare? Diane Brady, Executive Editorial Director, Fortune Live Media, Fortune, who moderated the conversation, kicked off the dinner by taking the group’s temperature on AI with the vast majority saying they are optimistic about AI, or at least cautiously optimistic.
While AI offers powerful opportunities to reduce clinician burnout, streamline workflows and improve patient outcomes, adoption remains slow. Why? Because trust is still being earned. In fact, only 63% of doctors and 48% of patients are optimistic about AI’s potential to improve healthcare and patient outcomes, according to Philips 2025 U.S. Future Health Index.
To move forward, the industry must prioritize transparency, education and collaboration.
Key Takeaways Trust is the Foundation Without trust, AI’s potential in healthcare remains untapped. Building confidence among clinicians and patients is essential to adoption. Change Management is Critical Technology alone isn’t enough. Successful AI implementation requires thoughtful change management and a focus on business fundamentals. AI as a Clinical Ally From summarizing patient histories to identifying diagnostic blind spots, AI can enhance—not replace—clinical decision-making. Redefining ROI in Healthcare Beyond cost savings, AI’s return on investment should include improved safety, better care quality and reduced clinician burnout. A Future Full of Possibility Leaders envision AI sandboxes for experimentation, reduced administrative burden and expanded use in areas like cancer care.
AI can help deliver better care for more people—but only if we build the trust to support it. When AI really works in healthcare, it accelerates diagnoses, sharpens treatments and makes care more human. The greatest return is giving time back to caregivers.
The 2025 U.S. Future Health Index shows that healthcare leaders view AI as a primary lever to address not just financial pressures but also systemwide challenges like staff shortages and patient access delays. A 2022 study from the National Bureau of Economic Research estimated that wider use of AI could cut healthcare spending by 5 to 10%, but its true value will be measured not only in dollars saved, but in lives improved, clinicians empowered and communities served.
Building trust in AI means ensuring that innovation strengthens—not replaces—the human connection at the heart of care. That’s how AI earns confidence among clinicians and patients and helps healthcare systems deliver better outcomes, improve experiences and expand access to quality care.
Learn more about AI in healthcare in the U.S. 2025 Future Health Index.
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