There have been many instances throughout history where an invention has changed the way we consume and exchange information with broad societal implications. The internet, which started as a protocol to facilitate information sharing between small groups grew into a technology that has revolutionized and created industries. Today, we’re witnessing another decisive moment with the rise of artificial intelligence (AI). Like the internet, AI isn’t something that you can take or leave. It will have an impact regardless of if you’re a first mover or not. We can learn from the way the internet impacted healthcare to prepare for the future of AI.

1. The internet did not replace clinicians – and neither will AI
As medical information grows, so too does the ability to treat patients in a more tailored way, such as the evolution from physical to electronic medical records. The internet via the EMR has brought meaningful benefits to healthcare and saved countless lives through:

• Fewer errors than paper records
• More efficient and effective care
• Ability to track data over time
• Improved diagnoses
• Expanded patient health data privacy

But that improvement created new challenges and necessitated an evolution in the role of the clinician. This story is likely to repeat with AI where it will enable us to expand patient centered care. But we need to be proactive in thinking about how we want the role of the clinician to change in response to this technology.

With the rise of the internet came important advancements to electronic medical records, allowing providers to access patient data from anywhere. Additionally, the internet offered a simplified search engine, granting clinicians immediate access to healthcare information that previously lived in large tomes or an experienced clinician’s brain. The internet brought the potential to streamline and improve the quality of healthcare delivery through EMRs and access to information. Similarly, AI has the potential to make care delivery more efficient. AI is able to sort through mountains of data from disparate sources in order to elevate or flag concerns. It can aid in precision medicine by identifying abnormalities in a patient’s genome data and family medical history. Like the internet, AI isn’t intended to replace clinicians but rather a tool that will raise the standard of care across the board.

2. The internet enabled democratization of knowledge – and so will AI
The internet initiated a shift in the balance of knowledge between clinicians and patients. Patients could access information that previously was only available to those working in the medical field. This access has empowered patients to exert more agency across their care journey. But this also changes the nature of the patient-provider relationship as the information asymmetry lessens. This was the very early start of a broader trend – the commodification of healthcare. Patients are shopping around for care in ways we haven’t previously seen in the healthcare industry.

AI will further this trend, and the recent boom in generative AI applications has made this even more clear. While generative AI has many potential use cases, one that would have a major impact on patient access to information is the ability to summarize medical conversations in plain language. Health literacy is a major barrier to care; generative AI could be one way to improve patient access and understanding.

3. The internet was not a panacea for workforces – AI won’t be either (but it can help)
It’s no secret that burnout and staffing are major issues facing the healthcare workforce today. The internet both added to and alleviated these issues. The internet automated scheduling tasks, enabled telehealth applications, and supported clinical decision-making. Similarly, if implemented correctly, AI applications have the ability to ease workforce challenges such as labor shortages and burnout. AI can take on administrative tasks such as determining staffing needs faster and more accurately than previous methods. This single application can improve workplace satisfaction, increase employee retention, lead to better performance, and improve patient satisfaction. AI can also automate processes that free up human time and analyze larger amounts of data – giving clinicians more information about their patient and allowing them to spend more time focused on patient care.

No one could have predicted how the internet has affected society, and there’s still much we don’t know about its ongoing potential impact. Equally, there’s much we don’t yet know about AI yet. What we do know is that AI expansion is not a matter of "if" but a matter of "when" and “how”. This technology is here and not something that your organization can ignore or avoid. But keep your overarching goals – not the technology – your number one priority; people working in tandem with AI has proven more effective than working alone.