{
  "id": 9401819,
  "title": "Can AI actually save lives?",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/23/can-ai-actually-save-lives",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-09-23T19:50:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Vox",
    "slug": "vox",
    "url": "https://www.vox.com/podcasts/503589/ai-healthcare-patient-experience-drug-discovery"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The idea that artificial intelligence could save lives has gained significant traction, particularly in the realm of scientific research and medicine. A recent NBC News/Decision Desk poll revealed that 70 percent of adults are more apprehensive than enthusiastic about AI technology, but there is a notable exception—its application in healthcare. Dr. Dhruv Khullar, a physician at Weill Cornell Medicine and a writer for the New Yorker, believes that the use of AI in medicine is promising and well-founded.\n\nAI tools have already made their way into healthcare in various ways. One of the most rapid uptakes has been on the administrative side, where AI scribes are taking notes during patient consultations, allowing doctors to engage more directly with their patients. Additionally, AI is being used for patient navigation, helping patients navigate the healthcare system more seamlessly, especially those diagnosed with serious illnesses like cancer or heart failure. The third significant area where AI is making an impact is drug discovery. By scouring vast chemical spaces and ranking potential drug targets based on their likelihood of causing a particular disease, AI is helping researchers identify promising candidates much faster than in the past. While Khullar acknowledges that AI is not a panacea for all healthcare issues, he sees it as a valuable resource that can assist doctors in making more informed decisions and improving patient care. However, he cautions that the technology still has limitations and should be used responsibly, in conjunction with human expertise, to maximize its potential benefits while minimizing any potential downsides.",
  "summary": "If there’s one thing that Americans can unite behind, it’s anxieties over artificial intelligence. According to a recent NBC News/Decision Desk poll, 70 percent of adults say they are personally more worried than excited about the technology; it’s basically underwater in every area of society with one notable exception: its use in scientific research and […]",
  "key_points": [
    "70% of adults apprehensive about AI in healthcare.",
    "AI used in patient navigation for serious illnesses.",
    "AI accelerates drug discovery by analyzing chemical spaces."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}