The following is a guest article by Narinder Singh, Co-Founder and CEO at LookDeep Health
The U.S. performs more lung transplants than the rest of the world combined. Our hospitals pioneered robotic surgeries, advanced stroke treatments, led the way in cancer therapies, and have driven most of the most significant clinical advancements of the past century. Yet, paradoxically, the very institutions that excel in medical innovation rely on antiquated software systems that lag in user experience, harbor security vulnerabilities dating back over a decade, and depend on outdated architectures abandoned by nearly every other industry.
A cynical view might suggest that U.S. healthcare incentives prioritize expensive, cutting-edge innovations over scalable efficiency. While there is truth to this, the root causes run deeper. The hesitance to adopt transformative technologies isn’t due to a lack of financial incentives or capabilities. It stems from a lack of experience with tectonic technological change. Technology disruptions forced other industries to evolve or die. Hospitals remained largely immune to these shifts—until now.
The Missed Waves of Technological Disruption
For a generation, disruption isn’t the insightful Innovator’s Dilemma penned by Clayton Christensen – it’s the lived experience of the rise and fall of Blockbuster. The emergence of their stores changed weekend nights everywhere; then the empty storefronts left by their closures became a darker reminder of the power of the internet. With the rise of cloud computing, mobile and social revolutions each felt faster and more inevitable than the last.
These disruptions forced businesses to adapt or face obsolescence, yet hospitals largely remained untouched. In fact, each subsequent ‘revolution’ impacted the hospital less and less. As each wave transformed industries, hospitals stuck to what worked and admired as their clinicians changed more and more patients’ lives forever.
While hospitals could have done more, the truth is none of these technologies fundamentally could change how doctors and nurses cared for patients inside a hospital.
AI: Finally “Software” that can Transform Care
Artificial Intelligence is set to revolutionize every industry and shatter this pattern inside hospitals. Already we see AI’s power in accessing and synthesizing vast amounts of information as a wondrous moment for doctors and nurses. Yet for hospitals, if AI stopped here, it would be productive, but fall short of a true disruption. It is the ability of AI to hear and see that will unlock fundamental change inside hospitals.
Vision transforms AI by adding something akin to how a nurse or doctor observes a patient. By combining computer vision and AI—Vision AI—these systems can recognize visual patterns in real-time and become the always-on assistant for doctors and nurses.
Imagine AI systems continuously monitoring patients for risky actions, detecting respiratory rates without devices, tracking physical progress or deterioration, monitoring the ability to perform Activities of Daily Living (ADLs), and much more. AI acts as a continuous sensor, synthesizing the information it collects. It keeps doctors and nurses informed of the essentials, engages them in decision-making when needed, and allows their focus to remain on the patient and the decisions only they can make.
While much of the current focus is on automating documentation and data review, unlocking AI’s true potential in the hospital requires vision—the capacity to observe and interpret the patient and care in real-time. Combined with existing data (EHR, vital signs, radiology, etc) this capability creates the foundational model for a revolution in care. Without Vision AI, transforming care is as impossible as creating self-driving cars without the ability to see the world ahead.
The Era of True Disruption: Hospitals at a Crossroads
Previously only regulation truly disrupted hospitals’ practices. This is the first time technology can decisively influence the success or failure of hospitals. With the population of those over 65 increasing by 50% over the next 20 years, hospital capacity will be stretched well beyond the breaking point. With labor making up 60% of the 1.5T spent each year, AI will be critical to scaling care without scaling costs. This shift not only boosts efficiency but also elevates the quality of care, as healthcare professionals can dedicate their expertise to diagnosing and treating patients rather than performing routine checks and acting as human sensors for basic information gathering.
The mechanisms of disruption will be different from the disruption of a business model (e.g. Uber vs taxi). It will be akin to an interesting improvement that unlocks an unexpected revolution – like the invention of the wheel. Imagine one hospital leading on AI and increasing the efficiency of labor by just 10 percent (lower than the 15 percent projected in a recent McKinsey report). For most hospitals that would reflect a 300-1000% increase in potential margin and/or investment into improved care. AI isn’t just another tech advancement; it’s the catalyst that will redefine the hospital landscape.
The Last First Disruption: Embracing AI for the Big Leap
Hospitals now face a pivotal choice. While many recognize AI as an existential force, their actions often remain tied to outdated digital innovation strategies. But AI offers more than just incremental efficiency—it’s the first technology with the potential to fundamentally reshape hospital care for patients. Like countries that leapfrogged landlines in favor of mobile technology, hospitals that embrace AI can leap ahead and transform care delivery at scale. In this future, doctors, nurses, and providers are exactly where they are needed most—with the right patient, at the right time, and with the right context.
AI is a powerful enabler of productivity, but true transformation requires pairing it with bold, reimagined clinical workflows. This rethinking of care must be led by those on the frontlines—by doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals who gain an understanding of how this technology can amplify human expertise. The insights and leadership of clinical staff will determine how AI’s capabilities are integrated to create lasting, meaningful change.
This is the moment for hospitals to define their future. AI won’t just streamline healthcare—it will redefine it. The only question is, who will rise to meet this challenge?
About Narinder Singh
Narinder Singh’s expertise spans the intersection of healthcare, AI, and disruptive technologies. As Co-Founder and CEO at LookDeep Health, he leads efforts to integrate advanced computer vision and AI technologies to enhance acute care, tackling the challenge of scaling efficient, high-quality care. Narinder is also the author of A Family’s Guide to the ICU, a valuable resource for families navigating the complexities of intensive care. Previously, he co-founded Appirio, the first investment of Salesforce Ventures and a leader in cloud computing. He currently serves on the board of PAR Technologies (NYSE).
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