The adoption of generative AI in healthcare is accelerating, with early use cases primarily targeting administrative tasks, according to new research from McKinsey & Company.
McKinsey has surveyed healthcare leaders since 2023 about their outlooks and approaches to gen AI. The most recent survey, conducted in the fourth quarter of 2024, included 150 healthcare leaders from payers, health systems and healthcare services and technology groups.
Adoption and implementation
The survey determined that about 85 percent of the healthcare leaders during the fourth quarter of the year 2024 investigated or adopted generative AI features. More respondents were in the full implementation rather than proof-of-concept phases which suggested forward-moving efforts in the gen AI investments, though 15 percent still stated that their organizations were not on board with creating proof-of-concept use cases.
Focus on third-party vendor partnerships
The survey showed that 61% of leaders would look to take partnerships with third-party vendors for tailored applications. Of those opting for vendor partnerships, 58% will rely on their current IT vendors, and 46% are looking to partner with hyperscalers to facilitate their understanding of data management.
On the contrary, 20% of leaders say the plans would be to develop gen AI capabilities in-house while 19% said they would be using off-the-shelf technology.
“The development of gen AI remains important to success in the healthcare space, and leaders can consider how to position their organizations for the future,” the report authors wrote. “Successful implementations will require a value-driven strategy, strong delivery capabilities, and robust organizational management.”
