Why Are People Excited About AI in Healthcare?
David Norris, a lifelong technologist and healthcare innovator, unpacks why AI—especially large language models (LLMs)—is gaining rapid traction in healthcare. With decades of progress converging in recent breakthroughs, Norris outlines how AI can now handle tasks from reading faxes to calling patients about lab results. He emphasizes the practical LLM use cases in healthcare that free clinicians from administrative burdens, allowing more time for patient care. This transformation isn't about replacing jobs—it's about restoring the human connection in medicine by shifting repetitive tasks to AI. The conversation brings clarity to the real benefits of AI in healthcare and where it's headed next.
Episode Contents:
About the Guest
David Norris is the CEO and Co-founder of Affineon Health. He is also a board member, investor, advisor, and seasoned entrepreneur in digital health and AI innovation.
Key Takeaways
- LLMs are expanding what’s possible for AI in healthcare.
- Advances in computing and data access unlocked new use cases.
- AI can manage tedious tasks, like fax reading and scheduling.
- Voice-based AI agents are now capable of explaining lab results to patients.
- Ambient AI can handle documentation, letting clinicians focus on care.
Condensed Transcript
Q: Why are people so excited about AI in healthcare today?
David Norris: AI has been around for decades, but what’s changed is the arrival of large language models like ChatGPT. These systems can now tackle a much wider set of problems thanks to advances in computational power. In healthcare, this means AI can take over routine administrative tasks—like processing faxes or rescheduling appointments—freeing up providers to focus on patient care.
Q: What made the leap in AI capability possible?
David Norris: Several enablers converged: modern computing power, internet-scale datasets, and LLM architectures. Before, we couldn’t feed enough data into AI or process it fast enough. Now, LLMs can digest and reason through massive data like the entire internet, offering intelligent, parallel thinking that feels natural—and that's transformative.
Q: Will AI replace healthcare jobs?
David Norris: In fact, it’s the opposite. We’re short on nurses and want them spending time with patients—not doing paperwork. AI makes this possible. For instance, ambient AI can now take notes during patient visits, allowing doctors to engage directly without sitting behind a screen.
About the Series
AI and Healthcare—with Mika Newton and Dr. Sanjay Juneja is an engaging interview series featuring world-renowned leaders shaping the intersection of artificial intelligence and medicine.
Dr. Sanjay Juneja, a hematologist and medical oncologist widely recognized as “TheOncDoc,” is a trailblazer in healthcare innovation and a rising authority on the transformative role of AI in medicine.
Mika Newton is an expert in healthcare data management, with a focus on data completeness and universality. Mika is on the editorial board of AI in Precision Oncology and is no stranger to bringing transformative technologies to market and fostering innovation.