A dose of AI

From detecting cancer to reshaping diagnosis and treatment, artificial intelligence is changing the DNA of health care with the promise of a 'healthier human'. The second of a three-part series

- SHELLEY SINGH

In early 2024, Marly Garnreiter, a 27-year-old French woman, began experiencing persistent night sweats and itchy skin. Her doctors dismissed it as stress. Her blood report came back normal. Out of curiosity, she asked ChatGPT about it. The artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot suggested she might have blood cancer. Nearly a year later, in April 2025, doctors confirmed she had Hodgkin's lymphoma, a cancer that affects the lymphatic system.

Stories like Garnreiter's are making headlines repeatedly: AI catching what humans miss.

While anecdotal, they point to a shift underway in health care—one where AI doesn't replace doctors but sharpens their eyes and expands their reach. And also, frees up the time doctors and nurses spend on tasks like writing patient summaries, current patient condition, treatment plan, and so on.

Discharge summaries and reports, too, are being prepared by AI and sent to patients, after a human has crosschecked them for errors.

"The future lies in human-AI collaboration, where technology enhances our diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities," says Bharat Aggarwal, principal director, radiology services, Max Super Speciality Hospital, Saket, Delhi. The hospital chain is implementing AI in 'shadow mode', running predictions alongside human clinicians to verify accuracy before actual deployment.

"AI is reshaping the healthcare landscape at a brisk pace," says Venkatesh Krishnan, executive director, public sector, health care, education, Microsoft India and South Asia. "Globally, 79 per cent of health care and lifesciences companies are leveraging AI to drive better outcomes." In India, he says, this momentum is visible as healthcare systems navigate workforce challenges, rising patient expectations, and need for personalized care.