Industry watchers call healthcare AI a ‘double-edged sword’ that ‘cannot function in isolation’

Healthcare may finally have struck a healthy balance between AI hype and AI reality, according to a report from impartial observers who are also, indirectly at least, healthcare AI stakeholders.

The group is the international strategic-communications agency Norvell Jefferson, which sells no healthtech products but serves clients who do. In early March the agency’s people descended on HIMSS25 in Las Vegas to conduct conversations, gather insights and interview healthcare leaders on healthcare technology. 

In its report on the business intel project, released in April, Norvell Jefferson frequently homes in on AI. Here are seven key excerpts. 

1. AI has the potential to revolutionize diagnostics, workflow automation and personalized care. But it cannot function in isolation. 

Healthcare systems must have real-time interoperability, trust in data security and infrastructure capable of supporting AI-driven decision-making, the report’s authors state.

‘Without these attributes, AI adopters risk becoming inefficient silos rather than connected, intelligent ecosystems.’

2. The rise of ambient intelligence signals a shift from AI as a tool to AI as an invisible but indispensable assistant in healthcare.

“AI is shifting from an external tool that clinicians have to interact with manually to an embedded, invisible intelligence”—one that automatically processes conversations, extracts relevant data and executes administrative tasks, Norvell Jefferson reports. 

‘This shift was one of the most defining themes at HIMSS25.’

3. Healthcare AI’s success depends entirely on the quality and accessibility of data. 

While adoption rates for AI-powered healthcare solutions are rising, fragmented IT infrastructures, legacy systems and lack of standardized data-sharing practices are impeding progress. “Interoperability is no longer an IT challenge,” the agency writes. “It is a fundamental business and patient care necessity.” More: 

‘Organizations that fail to prioritize seamless data exchange risk limiting AI’s effectiveness, creating inefficiencies and missing out on the full potential of real-time, AI-powered healthcare.’

4. AI is a double-edged sword.  

AI is not just an enabler of healthcare innovation—it is also being used by cybercriminals to develop more sophisticated attacks, the authors note. “As healthcare becomes increasingly digital, cybersecurity is evolving from a reactive defense mechanism into a proactive enabler of innovation, trust and patient safety.”

‘Security must evolve alongside the technologies driving modern healthcare. And security teams must stay ahead by using AI-driven cybersecurity tools.’

5. Rigid, outdated technology is one of the biggest barriers to AI and interoperability adoption. 

Healthcare providers that continue to rely on legacy IT infrastructures face slow AI adoption, high cybersecurity risks and bloated operational costs, Norvell Jefferson observes. 

‘Tech debt is slowing down progress at a time when healthcare is under immense pressure to improve efficiency, reduce costs and enhance patient care.’

6. The smart hospital concept is evolving. 

‘AI is no longer just improving hospital workflows—it is transforming healthcare beyond hospital walls, from remote patient monitoring to AI-assisted virtual care.’

7. The challenge is no longer whether to innovate—but how to do so responsibly, securely and efficiently. 

‘The next era of healthcare will be defined by organizations that take proactive steps now to future-proof their IT, align AI with real clinical needs and prioritize security and compliance.’

Access the full report here.