As the use of artificial intelligence  becomes increasingly common in today’s society, its practicality is being taken advantage of in some hospitals.  

In San Francisco, multiple  hospitals have adopted the usage of AI technology including Kaiser Permanente, Sutter Health, and Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital.  

The use of Artificial Intelligence  to perfect and complete tasks has brought about numerous ethical concerns and threatens the idea of job displacement of  actual human beings. Because of the advanced technology now being introduced, it is possible that skill requirements for  individuals interested in working in the medical field may change in the coming years, according to clevelandclinic.org.  

Data privacy is another large issue that many feel uneasy about, specifically, the safety and confidentiality of individuals personal medical information and history. Many feel disinclined to trust AI data as it is still a long way from being perfected. Despite these concerns, AI is being used for many roles in medical institutions. 

In medical environments, AI has been used to further develop research, assist in basic patient care, communication, and scheduling, as well as for the improvement of precision. 

When talking about the use of AI in telehealth and vital tracking devices Karen McDermott, science instructor in the Biomed department stated, “I feel like that advancement there you know is keeping people in touch with their doctor and kind of their own health.” 

Advanced technology in hospitals  can improve and aid in pattern  recognition and hence assist in  diagnosing patients. In more  serious cases, AI may assist with  epilepsy, stroke, and cancer. Crystal Wei ’26 stated, “It [AI]  should be a tool that assists  patient and caregiver, something  that makes their interaction more  accurate and more convenient.” The purpose of this technological  advancement in medical care is  to provide medical professionals with extra assistance in addition to their own medical expertise.  

Furthermore, the use of AI is thought to decrease the risk of human error and increase  efficiency in an industry where  people’s lives and well being are  on the line.  

 Engineering instructor Frank  Torrano said, “If it’s a tool it’s okay … as soon as it stops being a tool and starts being a crutch  then we got problems.” 

At the same time, artificial  intelligence and healthcare officials can function as a joint effort, using the advanced technology as a tool instead of a replacement for humans. 

Recently, AI has been credited  for aiding in cancer detection by double checking screenings. Artificial intelligence can help  improve liver screenings by pointing out the areas that need  to be double checked with medical professionals. This can reduce  misdiagnosis. 

AI is additionally able to aid in drug development, virtually assist people through online chat services, and make healthcare  more equitable by increasing medical research of marginalized and underrepresented groups.