AI Poised to Transform Healthcare in Next Decade

UCSF chair discusses how artificial intelligence will reshape doctor visits and medical care

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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Artificial intelligence is already playing a significant role in healthcare, from guiding surgeons in operating rooms to analyzing medical scans and patient records. As the pace of AI integration accelerates, physician and author Robert Wachter joins us to discuss what the future of medicine will look like in the next 10-20 years, including the potential for AI-powered virtual doctor consultations and increased access to cutting-edge care.

Why it matters

The rapid advancement of AI in healthcare has major implications for how patients interact with doctors, the delivery of medical services, and the accessibility of advanced treatments. Understanding these coming changes can help prepare both healthcare providers and consumers for the transformation of the industry.

The details

AI is already being used in various medical applications, such as assisting surgeons, reading imaging scans, and taking notes during doctor visits. This integration of AI is only expected to increase, potentially leading to AI-powered virtual doctor consultations before in-person visits with primary care physicians or specialists. Wachter believes this could expand access to high-quality care, but also raises questions about the role of human doctors going forward.

  • Artificial intelligence is already being used in healthcare today.
  • The pace of AI integration in medicine is expected to accelerate over the next 10-20 years.

The players

Robert Wachter

Chair of the Department of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco and author of 'A Giant Leap: How AI Is Transforming Healthcare and What That Means for Our Future.'

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What they’re saying

“Artificial Intelligence is already guiding surgeons in operating rooms; it's used to read image scans or take notes during your doctor's visit. And the pace of AI integration is only getting faster.”

— Robert Wachter, Chair of the Department of Medicine, UCSF (whyy.org)

The takeaway

The rapid integration of AI into healthcare has the potential to transform how patients access and receive medical care, from virtual doctor consultations to increased availability of cutting-edge treatments. However, this shift also raises important questions about the future role of human physicians in the industry.