AI is Changing Everything, Faster Than Most Humans Can Comprehend. It Will Upend Consumer Health, Too (Part II)

In our last blog, we discussed PwC’s decision to downsize its partners and personnel. Today, we’re diving deeper into PwC’s own insights on AI to further emphasize the point. This past weekend, as with many weekends lately, was filled with exciting AI developments—it feels like the news is flowing like a waterfall. Many of the experts and influencers I follow on AI have mentioned that we might all be experiencing a kind of Fear of Missing Out (FOMO). I admit that, for me, this feels almost like an obsession, especially when I think about AI’s potential in Consumer Health. But the truth is, AI is advancing at such an astonishing pace.

I receive dozens of medical and technology journals monthly, multiple newsletters on AI each week, and countless daily emails. I read anything that discusses AI’s application in healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and genetics, sometimes staying up until 2 or 3 AM. I’ve become a sort of human version of a Large Language Model, but with one major difference—experience. My hands-on knowledge, especially regarding the ways insurance companies and healthcare providers are utilizing AI, has come through years of learning the hard way. I’ve seen how AI is shaping everything from back-office operations to the direct care that patients receive. The value and potential dangers are real.

In the link below, PwC publishes a 22-page “executive playbook” titled Agentic AI: The New Frontier in GenAI. They outline various applications for Agentic AI.

PwC defines Agentic AI as a transformative evolution in AI, where systems autonomously perform tasks, optimize workflows, and engage in goal-oriented behavior without needing constant human oversight. This multimodal capability—where AI can process and integrate diverse data sources like text, images, and audio—greatly enhances its ability to mimic human-like reasoning, interaction, and decision-making. PwC highlights that organizations adopting this technology early will see significant benefits, including improved operational efficiency, cost reduction, accelerated innovation, and a competitive edge. However, to successfully integrate Agentic AI, strategic alignment with organizational goals, careful planning, and robust risk management are essential—particularly when addressing ethical AI concerns, data privacy, and responsible governance.

This, to me, reinforces the point made in the last blog: AI will lead to massive displacement of human workers, and we may see this unfold during a period of economic contraction.

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The Role of AI in Healthcare

As we focus on healthcare, PwC’s insights into Agentic AI’s potential are particularly compelling. They point to Mayo Clinic’s use of multimodal AI in radiology workflows, which has resulted in a 30% reduction in diagnostic times, a 15% decrease in unnecessary medical procedures, and improved diagnostic accuracy and patient outcomes. PwC notes that Mayo Clinic employs advanced AI models, including Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs), integrated through NVIDIA’s Clara platform. These systems automate documentation, optimize decision-making, and enhance overall efficiency in radiology, ultimately delivering meaningful clinical and economic benefits.

We’ve discussed before how AI is nearly perfect for assisting in radiology, pathology, and genetics. But beyond these areas, we must remain cautious. AI can be a tremendous help to consumers, but we need to carefully consider its limitations and risks, especially when it comes to direct patient care.

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AI Across Industries

PwC also points out that Agentic AI’s influence extends well beyond healthcare. Industries like finance, manufacturing, retail, and public services are increasingly adopting AI-driven solutions to enhance market prediction, create personalized customer experiences, automate complex processes, and innovate service delivery. By leveraging AI, these sectors can quickly respond to shifting market conditions, maintain a competitive edge, and secure long-term success in a data-driven economy.

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Back to AI & The Consumer

As we’ve discussed here, AI presents both risks and rewards for day-to-day physicians treating patients. In 90% of cases, especially in specialized fields, if a doctor is relying too heavily on AI to assist with patient interactions, that’s a red flag. I’ve sat in on hundreds of office visits, with patient consent, to understand the dynamics between patients and their doctors. Sometimes doctors miss things patients say, or, at times, they may intentionally ignore what’s been said if the data doesn’t align with it. For instance, in my father’s case, a doctor once told me that he would prescribe a very benign product, promising it would help him. My father believed it did, but in reality, it didn’t. The power of belief can be strong, but relying solely on AI without a human touch can create issues.

However, when we aggregate health data from multiple sources, AI can be extremely beneficial in helping consumers understand their health conditions better. More importantly, AI can help facilitate communication between patients and their healthcare providers. This is where AI can have an immediate, positive impact—empowering consumers and improving their healthcare experiences.