AI in Healthcare: What’s Real, What’s Hype, and What’s Coming Next

AI is moving fast in healthcare. Some of it is hype. Some of it is noise. But a lot of it is real, and it’s already changing daily work for both doctors and patients.

In this episode, Jason and I talked with Max Drescher, the creator of Healthcare AI Guy. Max has experience working with the largest healthcare companies. He has worked in M&A teams and is currently part of conversations shaping AI's future in health.

This post breaks down what we learned, simply, clearly, and without the buzzwords.

Let’s get into it.

AI Scribers Are the Fastest‑Adopted Health Tech in History

Max hit us with one of the wildest stats of the episode:

“AI scribes have been the fastest adopted technology in the history of healthcare, period.”

That’s not hype. That’s real adoption.

Why? Because provider burnout is real. Documentation takes hours. And AI scribes save minutes per patient.

Hospitals and health systems usually move slowly. But AI scribes are breaking that pattern, cutting sales cycles in half and showing measurable ROI fast.

AI Adoption in Healthcare Is Higher Than You Think

Max pointed to two reports:

McKinsey (2025): Healthcare is near the top in AI adoption
Menlo Ventures: Agent adoption in health systems is better than in most industries.

Healthcare often has long cycles and outdated software. Despite this, the demand is strong. Therefore, leaders are quickly adopting AI.

Things already happening:

Front‑office automation
Back‑office automation
Documentation reduction
Clinical prep tools

These aren’t “coming soon.” They’re happening now.

What’s Actually Working (Not Just Hype)

AI scribes
Voice automation for scheduling and routing
Revenue cycle tools
Pre‑visit clinical summaries
Risk‑flagging and chart prep
Patient messaging and routing
Decision‑support assistants for providers

One of Max’s examples says it all:

Open Evidence, a clinical decision-support tool, has a $6B valuation and around 50 employees. It’s popular with both young PAs and doctors in their 60s.

When technology leaps over generations, it indicates a big change is on the way.

Where AI Is Still Mostly Hype

There is hype, no question.

Here’s what Max called out:

Overcrowded scribe markets: Too many copycat platforms
Frothy valuations: 100x revenue raises won’t hold
AI doctor autonomy: Not realistic anytime soon
EMR integration: Epic shut down major partner programs

The hype is real. But so is the progress.

The Next Wave: Bio + Consumer Health + Real Decision Support

Max broke down what’s coming next:

1. Clinical decision support that actually helps

Not replacing doctors — just making them more prepared. Less likely to miss key info. Better visits. Better care.

As I said in the episode:

“Even if AI doesn’t make decisions, it should at least normalize the chart and prepare the doctor. That alone changes everything.”

2. Consumers getting more control

More patients are tracking their data. They use dashboards and ask smarter questions. Apps like:

Function Health
Superpower
Blueprint

These tools shift power to the patient.

Max said it clearly:

“Patients will finally have ownership over their health data. That shifts everything.”

3. Bio is the next frontier

Gene editing, CRISPR, digital twins, this is what’s next. Max put it plainly:

“AI has focused on healthcare first. Bio is the next frontier.”

My 5 Key Takeaways

1. AI in healthcare is real, not hype

We’re already seeing value in scribes, scheduling, and workflow tools.

2. Clinical decision support will be the big unlock

AI won’t replace the doctor, but it will make them better prepared.

3. Patients will own more data

People want clear dashboards and paths, not just raw numbers.

4. The scribe and voice markets will consolidate

Too many vendors. The best platforms will rise.

5. Bio + AI is where the big breakthroughs will come

This next decade won’t just be software, it’ll be biology.

Final Thoughts

For years, healthcare tech felt stuck. Slow. Heavy. Hard to implement. Hard to measure.

But not anymore.

AI isn’t replacing doctors. It’s giving them superpowers. AI isn’t replacing clinics. It’s giving them efficiency. AI isn’t replacing judgment. It’s improving information flow.

And the founders who understand where AI is actually useful, not just trendy, will be the ones who win.

We’re still early. But the shift is real.

🎧 Listen to Episode 35 here: