Good medical advice isn’t just hard to find, it is expensive. Enter generative AI — a revolution in cheap expertise – and patients are seizing the opportunity. More and more, people are turning to these tools for instant, personalized health insights that were once only accessible through costly and time-consuming interactions with the health care system. And patients aren’t waiting for delivery system transformation. They are already using AI to fill critical gaps in access, affordability, and understanding. They are using it to address their health issues, manage chronic conditions, and make sense of a system that often feels overwhelming, especially as health care costs rise, wait times stretch, and provider shortages worsen.
This isn’t just about convenience; for many people, using AI tools is a necessity. AI tools are easy to use, adapt to how people learn, speak their language — literally — and provide instant guidance, all of which is difficult for a challenged health system to provide at scale. But while these tools offer convenience and empowerment, with this shift comes real risks — misinformation, bias, privacy concerns, and a potential breakdown of the relationship between patients and providers.
As AI becomes a core tool that patients use to manage their health, the right governance balance must be struck — one that ensures these applications are safe and equitable without limiting patient agency or reducing the benefits. The wrong approach could take away a newfound ally for patients. But at the same time, a hands-off approach leaves patients vulnerable to AI applications that may be riddled with bias, exploit their data, or provide misleading or even harmful advice. Calibrating to the right level of protections is not just a matter of policy — it’s a matter of equity, safety, and, in some cases, life and death.
A future where AI is an essential part of patient self-care is already here. The question now is: Who should step up to shape it in a way that serves patients, strengthens the patient-provider relationship, and ensures that the technology delivers on its potential? It is time for a broad coalition of stakeholders to work on a governance structure that serves patients, strengthens the patient-provider relationship, and ensures that the technology delivers on its potential. And patients should have not only a strong voice, but a leadership role in this work.
If we fail to act, the risks will only grow, leaving patients to navigate an AI-driven healthcare landscape without the protections they deserve. But if we get this right, AI can make health care more accessible, personalized, and empowering — strengthening trust, enhancing care, and improving health for us all.
