AI in Healthcare: Hype or Reality?

Doctors and hospitals are slowly adopting AI in healthcare, but many still have doubts and concerns about how it will work. AI has already helped in many industries, from customer service chatbots to self-driving cars, but healthcare is different.

I recently had a discussion with a medical professional at AIIMS, New Delhi, one of India’s top medical institutions. The topic?

What are Doctors’ biggest concerns about adopting AI in healthcare?

At BeyondChats, we’re redefining healthcare with AI—automating repetitive tasks, enhancing patient engagement, and giving doctors and nurses the freedom to focus on what truly matters: patient care. Our vision isn’t just about efficiency; it’s about transforming the future of healthcare.

The doctor listened but was skeptical. They acknowledged the disruptive potential of AI but also raised some critical concerns that can’t be ignored.

“Before we hand over the stethoscope to AI, let’s consider a few concerns,” they said.

Here’s what we discussed.

Doctor: 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗔𝗜 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘅𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲?

Healthcare is not just about numbers, reports, and medical data, it is about people, emotions, and trust.

AI might be great at analysing patterns and making predictions, but does it also grasp the individual needs of each patient?

Every patient has a unique medical history, lifestyle, and personal preferences that impact their treatment. A doctor uses more than just data to make decisions— they rely on experience, intuition, and direct human interaction.

My Thoughts: AI is a Support System

I completely understand your concern. AI is still evolving, and healthcare is one of the most regulated and risk-averse industries—rightly so. However, we are already seeing people using AI for highly personal matters.

• Many people ask AI for advice on relationships, personal issues, or even mental health.
• AI assistants are being used to help plan daily tasks, provide reminders, and answer sensitive questions.
• AI-powered chatbots are assisting with basic medical queries in hospitals and clinics worldwide.

If people are already trusting AI with such personal aspects of their lives, it is only a matter of time before they start expecting AI-powered digital assistants in every hospital and clinic.

Startups like BeyondChats are working closely with hospitals to develop specialized AI models that are tailored to specific medical needs. These AI assistants are not aiming to replace doctors but will act as an additional layer of support—just like nurses, administrative staff, and help desks in hospitals today.

In the future, hospitals will not just have nurses and front desk assistants—they will also have AI-driven digital assistants to help answer common patient questions, and provide quick, accurate medical guidance under a doctor’s supervision.

This shift is not about replacing the human touch in medicine—it is about enhancing efficiency, freeing up doctors’ time, and ensuring patients get the right help much faster.

Doctor: 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝗳 𝗔𝗜 𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗹𝗼𝗮𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗱𝗼𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀?

They explained that many doctors worry about having to double-check AI-generated reports, correct mistakes, and spend time learning new systems. If AI suggests incorrect or incomplete information, it could lead to even more administrative burdens.

Instead of saving time, doctors fear they might have to review and edit AI-generated recommendations, leading to longer work hours rather than efficiency. There is also concern that new AI systems may require extensive training and adaptation, which could disrupt hospital workflows.

My Thoughts: AI will save time, instead of being a burden

I completely understand why your concern exists. Technology should simplify work, not make it harder. However, modern AI—especially Large Language Models (LLMs)—is very different from traditional AI systems.

Here’s why:

1. LLMs Understand Real-World Data
   • Traditional AI models relied on pre-set rules and limited data. This meant doctors had to manually correct AI-generated outputs.
   • LLMs, on the other hand, learn from vast medical datasets and continuously improve their accuracy over time. They can adapt to real-world patient interactions and clinical guidelines much better than older AI models.
2. AI Agents Can Take Action, Not Just Provide Data
   • Earlier AI systems only processed and presented information, but they couldn’t automate workflows.
   • AI-powered assistants today can schedule appointments, summarize patient records, flag urgent cases, and provide structured insights—reducing manual tasks for doctors.
3. AI Will Automate Repetitive Work, Not Increase It
   • Many doctors and hospital staff spend hours on paperwork, patient history collection, and answering routine questions.
   • AI-led hyper-focused healthcare solutions will handle administrative tasks, allowing doctors to focus on patient care instead of documentation.
4. AI Adapts to the Doctor’s Workflow, Not the Other Way Around
   • The biggest fear is that doctors will have to change their entire way of working to fit into AI-driven systems.
   • But smart AI assistants like BeyondChats are designed to integrate seamlessly into existing hospital software, requiring minimal adjustment from doctors.

Doctor: 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗼 𝘄𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁?

Patients trust their doctors not just because of their medical knowledge, but because of human connection. A doctor listens to their concerns, understands their emotions, and builds a relationship over time.

Trust in healthcare is deeply personal. Patients rely on their doctors because they know that behind every diagnosis and treatment plan, there is a real person who cares about their well-being.

So, if AI starts playing a bigger role in healthcare, how do we ensure that patients trust AI-assisted decisions just as they trust human doctors? Will patients feel comfortable relying on a digital system instead of a real conversation with their doctor?

My Thoughts: AI will become a trusted partner for doctors

The key to building trust in AI in healthcare is transparency, reliability, and collaboration with doctors.

1. AI Needs to Be Transparent and Explainable
   • Patients will naturally be skeptical if AI works as a “black box,” providing recommendations without clear reasoning.
   • AI must be able to explain why it makes certain suggestions in simple terms, helping both patients and doctors understand its reasoning.
2. AI Should Assist
   • When AI is used to support doctors—rather than act as a standalone system—patients will be more likely to trust AI-backed recommendations.
3. Trust Comes from Proven Results
   • The more AI helps doctors improve patient outcomes, the more it will be seen as a valuable part of healthcare.
   • Over time, as AI continues to assist doctors in making accurate diagnoses, suggesting better treatments, and reducing errors, patients will naturally trust its role in their care.
4. Personalized and Faster Patient Care
   • AI enables more personalized healthcare by analyzing patient history, preferences, and symptoms instantly.
   • Instead of replacing human interactions, AI can ensure that doctors spend more time on critical cases while AI in healthcare handles routine queries.
   • This faster, smarter system will improve patient experience, making AI a trusted extension of the medical team.

Doctor: 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗰𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝗻𝘀

Healthcare data is extremely sensitive—it contains personal medical histories, diagnoses, treatment plans, and sometimes even psychological or genetic information. If this data falls into the wrong hands, it can lead to serious ethical, legal, and financial consequences.

With AI systems like OpenAI and Gemini processing large amounts of data, there’s a fear that patient records could be exposed, misused, or even sold without consent. The risk isn’t just about cybercriminals hacking into hospital databases—it’s also about how AI companies store and process this data.

If AI in healthcare is to be trusted, how do we ensure patient data is protected while still using AI to improve medical care?

My Thoughts: Security Must Be Built into AI from Day One

Data security is a real concern, and it should never be taken lightly. However, as AI and cybersecurity continue to advance, we now have stronger measures than ever before to ensure healthcare data remains safe.

1. AI in healthcare are build with Strong Encryption and Security Standards
   • Robust encryption protocols ensure that patient data is stored and transmitted securely.
   • Hospitals and healthcare providers must use end-to-end encryption, so even if data is intercepted, it remains unreadable.
2. AI in Healthcare don’t Use Open Data Models
   • General AI models like OpenAI and Gemini train on vast amounts of user data, but healthcare AI should be different.
   • Companies like Beyondchats are building Healthcare-specific AI models. And these are trained in a secure, closed environment where patient data is never exposed to the public internet.
3. Collaboration Between Tech and Healthcare Professionals
   • Doctors and hospital administrators must work closely with AI developers to define clear boundaries for data usage.
   • AI should only access data necessary for its task and should never store or use patient data beyond what is required for medical purposes.
4. Patients Must Have Control Over Their Data
   • Transparency is key—patients should always know when AI is being used and what data it is processing.
   • Patients should have the option to opt-out of AI-based recommendations or data sharing if they choose.

AI in healthcare is empowering healthcare providers. If done right, AI can be both a powerful medical tool and a secure guardian of patient data.

Conclusion: Collaboration is the Key to AI’s Success in Healthcare

For AI to revolutionize healthcare, it must be built in collaboration with medical professionals. This means:

• Listening to doctors and nurses to understand their pain points.
• Designing AI tools that are practical, user-friendly, and effective.
• Ensuring data privacy and security to build trust in AI systems.

At BeyondChats, we don’t see AI as a standalone technology—we see it as a partner in healthcare. We have created AI solutions that assist hospitals, support medical teams, and enhance patient experiences.

The future of healthcare is not AI replacing doctors—it’s AI working hand in hand with them to create a smarter, more efficient, and more accessible healthcare system.