What We’re Reading (and Watching): AI & Radiology
Innovation in healthcare is noisy — full of headlines, hype, and sweeping predictions. But behind the noise are the stories and insights that really matter: how radiologists are using AI to improve care, what we can learn from the successes and failures of AI pilots, and how breakthroughs beyond medicine can help shape the future of patient care. These are the perspectives we’re paying attention to right now, and they underscore a critical reality: radiologists and healthcare leaders can’t just respond to innovation. They must take an active role in steering it.
1. Reframing the AI Debate: Support, Not Substitution
Read: AI isn’t replacing radiologists — it’s helping them offer better care ›
Many worry that AI could replace radiologists, but the real challenge lies in managing growing imaging volumes while maintaining quality of care. This AuntMinnie article shows how AI tools are helping radiologists by accelerating findings, closing information gaps, and streamlining workflows, all while preserving clinical judgment and patient connection. Instead of fearing the future of AI in healthcare, we must guide its development with purpose and responsibility, and always keep the needs of both physicians and patients at the center.
This perspective is more important than ever as the conversation shifts from “if” AI should be used in healthcare to “how” it should be governed. Radiologists have a unique opportunity to shape this era by being proactive in guiding AI adoption and ensuring it strengthens, not distances, the physician–patient relationship. The real question is: what role will you play in elevating radiology and shaping the responsible use of AI?
2. Cutting Through Headlines: Understanding AI Pilot Success and Struggles
Listen: No, 95% of AI Pilots Aren’t Failing ›
A recent viral claim that “95% of AI pilots fail” made national headlines, sparking concerns about the viability of AI solutions in healthcare. The AI Daily Brief podcast unpacks the MIT study behind the headline, explains why it’s misleading, and highlights the real reasons so many pilots struggle to succeed.
In radiology, the reality is that AI’s value has already moved beyond theory, especially in streamlining workflows where minutes saved translate into thousands of hours reclaimed. Case studies, like LucidHealth’s, demonstrate measurable improvements in productivity, turnaround times, and reduced burden on radiologists. The key isn’t to “boil the ocean” with enterprise-wide projects, but to focus on targeted solutions that deliver visible impact and high adoption. This mindset is critical for health systems right now, as today’s choices will shape how AI fits into clinical practice for years to come.
3. Zooming Out: What Breakthrough Technologies Mean for Healthcare
Watch: Huge Conversations ›
Cleo Abram’s YouTube channel makes complex technology topics engaging and easy to understand. Her new “Huge Conversations” series features pioneers like Jensen Huang (CEO of NVIDIA), Dr. Jennifer Doudna (CRISPR co-inventor and Nobel laureate), and Sam Altman (CEO of OpenAI), who unpack the breakthroughs shaping our future, from AI to biotech and beyond.
Following voices like Cleo’s isn’t just interesting, it’s essential. Progress in adjacent fields inevitably ripples into medicine, and those who understand these shifts early are better positioned to guide their organizations and teams through change. These conversations also invite reflection: how should discoveries happening outside of healthcare reframe the way we think about innovation in radiology? And as radiology takes on a greater role in shaping patient outcomes, what role will you play in translating these big-picture trends into smarter systems and better care?
To conclude, AI and innovation aren’t hype or theories — they’re already shaping radiology and healthcare today. Whether it’s reframing how radiologists approach AI adoption, learning from the successes and struggles of AI pilots, or drawing lessons from breakthroughs beyond radiology, staying informed is part of shaping the future of healthcare, which is being written today. The real opportunity for radiology and healthcare leaders is to move from reacting to innovation to actively guiding it.
