How AI breakthroughs reshaped the healthcare landscape in 2024

A continued series of major advancements in healthcare technology occurred throughout 2024, primarily driven by artificial intelligence applications and new digital health solutions.

Key technological shifts: The intersection of health and technology saw significant evolution in 2024, building upon pandemic-era innovations and expanding into new digital health territories.

• AI-powered medical scribes emerged as a transformative tool, saving physicians an average of one hour daily by automatically summarizing patient visits
• Healthcare executives ranked AI as the most promising emerging technology for the fourth consecutive year
• Digital health innovations expanded beyond traditional medical settings into everyday consumer products

AI integration in healthcare: Artificial intelligence applications in healthcare demonstrated practical benefits for both medical professionals and patients.

• Medical professionals increasingly adopted AI-generated scribes during patient visits, enabling more engaged doctor-patient interactions
• Former Rep. Jennifer Wexton utilized AI text-to-speech technology on the House floor, showcasing its potential for accessibility
• Microsoft partnered with the Rijksmuseum to enhance art descriptions for visually impaired visitors using AI technology
• A collaboration between Microsoft and Be My Eyes began incorporating disability representative data in AI model training

Wearable technology advancement: Consumer health devices saw significant expansion in both capability and accessibility.

• Apple’s AirPods Pro received FDA approval as a clinical-grade hearing device
• New Apple Watch models introduced sleep apnea detection and enhanced heart monitoring features
• Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses partnered with Be My Eyes to assist visually impaired users through real-time volunteer connections
• Wearable devices now provide more actionable health data compared to previous generations

Digital therapeutics growth: Software-based therapeutic solutions gained momentum in healthcare delivery.

• Mental health applications for treating anxiety, depression, and substance use disorders saw increased adoption
• Medicare implemented new rules allowing clinicians to bill for FDA-authorized health apps
• The availability of prescription digital therapeutics increased five-fold since 2021
• Companies began expanding beyond mental health applications into other medical conditions

Looking ahead: Digital health innovations face important challenges and opportunities in 2025.

• Access disparities between urban and rural populations remain a significant concern
• Companies are exploring new applications for digital therapeutics beyond mental health, including Pfizer’s migraine management application
• Industry experts emphasize the need to ensure equitable access to digital health tools across all demographic groups