## Healthcare AI News Update

Agentic AI: The Big Change in Healthcare

This week, experts talked a lot about agentic AI, which is a new and powerful type of artificial intelligence. Unlike regular AI that just gives suggestions, agentic AI can actually do multiple steps on its own. Think of it like this: regular AI is like getting advice from a friend, but agentic AI is like having a helper who can actually complete tasks for you. In hospitals, this means AI can schedule appointments, update patient records, and help doctors all without a person clicking buttons the whole time.

Hospital leaders say this technology helps with two big problems: too much paperwork and not enough workers. Right now, nurses and doctors spend about 28 hours every week just doing office work instead of helping sick people. Agentic AI can do a lot of this boring work, which means doctors can focus on what really matters - making patients feel better.

New Government Rules Around the World

Governments in many countries are creating new rules for how hospitals can use AI. In the United States, President Trump signed an order that wants to make one set of rules for the whole country instead of each state having different rules. This could make it easier for hospitals to use the same AI tools no matter where they are.

The European Union announced a new plan to help hospitals use AI safely. They are creating special testing areas where companies can try new AI tools before they have to follow all the normal rules. They also want to make it faster for hospitals to test new medicines and treatments. The United Kingdom is asking doctors and hospital workers to share their ideas about what the best rules should be for AI.

Other countries are also paying attention. Canada's government released a list of the five most important ways AI should be used in hospitals: finding diseases, teaching doctors, treating diseases, giving personal care plans, and helping doctors take notes. Australia is looking at rules for AI chatbots that give health advice.

State Laws in America

In the United States, almost every state is thinking about AI rules. 47 states introduced 250 laws about healthcare AI in 2025, and 33 laws have already been approved in 21 different states. Many of these rules focus on telling patients when AI is being used to help them. Some states, like California, require clear warnings when people are chatting with AI instead of real doctors. Illinois and Texas say hospitals must tell patients if AI helped with their care.

Trust is the Real Challenge

Experts say the biggest problem is not technology - it is trust. Hospitals want to know that AI will work correctly and help patients. A big report from the World Health Organization found that 86% of countries say they are unsure about the laws for AI in healthcare, and 10% or fewer have rules about what happens if AI makes a mistake.

A report from Kaufman Hall found that many hospitals tried AI programs, but many of them did not work well. The report says hospitals need strong data systems and clear rules to make AI work. The good news is that governments are now creating better guidelines and safety rules for AI.

Real AI Tools Hospitals Are Using Right Now

Hospitals are already using new AI tools. Mass General Brigham, a big hospital system, created a tool called AIwithCare that uses AI to help find patients who might want to join medical studies. This helps doctors find people faster and helps sick people get access to new treatments.

In China, a health company created an app that answers millions of questions about health every day using AI. The app can also connect people to real doctors for online visits.

Experts like Dr. Scott Gottlieb say AI has not yet helped hospitals do more work faster because hospitals still have old systems and processes. But he says AI can help by doing the thinking work and the physical work, so doctors can focus on making important decisions about patients.

What Comes Next

The United States government announced that it wants ideas from hospital workers, AI companies, and patients about how to use AI to help people and save money. They are looking at three big levers: making rules easier, changing how hospitals are paid, and doing more research. They are especially interested in what hospitals that are already using AI have learned.