NYC Health CEO Envisions AI Replacing Radiologists

Katz says hospital system is ready to start automating X-ray diagnoses with artificial intelligence.

Apr. 4, 2026 at 6:18pm

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A ghostly, translucent X-ray image of a human chest, with the ribs and internal structures glowing faintly against a dark background, conceptually representing the automation of medical diagnosis using artificial intelligence.The potential replacement of radiologists with AI at one of the nation's largest hospital systems could reshape the future of healthcare diagnostics.NYC Today

Mitchell Katz, the president and CEO of NYC Health and Hospitals, the largest public health system in the United States, has announced that the organization is prepared to begin replacing human radiologists with AI technology to examine and diagnose X-rays. This comes just weeks after the largest nurses strike in New York City history.

Why it matters

The potential replacement of radiologists with AI raises significant concerns about the future of healthcare jobs, patient privacy, and the accuracy of medical diagnoses. As one of the largest hospital systems in the country, NYC Health's move could set a precedent for the wider adoption of AI in the medical field.

The details

At a panel held by Crain's New York Business, Katz stated that NYC Health and Hospitals is ready to start automating the process of examining and diagnosing X-rays using artificial intelligence. This would effectively replace human radiologists with AI systems. The announcement comes just weeks after the largest nurses strike in New York City history, highlighting the ongoing tensions within the healthcare industry.

  • The announcement was made on April 4, 2026 at a Crain's New York Business panel.
  • The announcement comes just weeks after the largest nurses strike in New York City history.

The players

Mitchell Katz

The president and CEO of NYC Health and Hospitals, the largest public health system in the United States.

NYC Health and Hospitals

The largest public health system in the United States, operating 11 hospitals in New York City.

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What they’re saying

“We are ready to start automating the process of examining and diagnosing X-rays using artificial intelligence.”

— Mitchell Katz, President and CEO, NYC Health and Hospitals

What’s next

It is unclear what specific timeline NYC Health and Hospitals has for implementing the AI-powered X-ray diagnosis system, or what the next steps in the process will be.

The takeaway

The potential replacement of radiologists with AI at one of the largest hospital systems in the country raises significant concerns about the future of healthcare jobs, patient privacy, and the accuracy of medical diagnoses. This move by NYC Health and Hospitals could set a precedent for the wider adoption of AI in the medical field, with far-reaching implications for the industry.