To understand AI’s impact fully, it is important to know the four stages it usually goes through. Experts like Gene Balas and the Goldman Sachs report “Next Phases of the AI Trade” describe these phases as connected steps where economic and technology changes support each other across different industries.
Phase 1: Emergence of AI Technologies
The first phase focuses on building AI’s basic technologies. Companies such as Nvidia make special computer chips called GPUs, which are needed to run complex AI programs. Without good hardware, AI cannot work well or grow.
Phase 2: Infrastructure Expansion
Next comes building important systems like cloud computing. Big companies like Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud provide the needed computing power and data storage for AI. Also, telecom networks and energy providers help by supplying power and connectivity. This phase creates the foundation for AI to spread more widely.
Phase 3: Revenue Enhancement through AI Integration
In healthcare, this phase shows the biggest changes for managers. AI helps in areas like diagnosis, patient care, scheduling, and running hospitals. It brings new ways to earn money by improving accuracy and making care more personalized. AI tools start bringing in clear financial benefits for healthcare providers.
Phase 4: Productivity and Efficiency Gains
Lastly, after the earlier phases are set, many industries begin using AI to improve how they work. Fields like manufacturing, transport, farming, and healthcare use AI for automation and better planning. Hospitals and clinics cut costs and serve more patients without needing many more workers.
For healthcare leaders in the U.S., knowing these phases helps them adopt AI in ways that fit current industry trends. This makes sure their technology investments are smart for now and the future.
AI does not grow alone. It causes effects across different industries as they connect and change each other. Recent studies show how AI affects many areas of the economy.
A study called “The contagion effect of artificial intelligence across innovative industries” by Muhammad Abubakr Naeem and others looked at data from June 2018 to October 2023. It found that AI sends influence and market risk to sectors like democratized banking and the metaverse. These industries take in much of AI’s effects, showing that AI’s reach goes beyond just technology companies.
Interestingly, Cleantech was less affected by AI-related market changes compared to other industries. Blockchain and cryptocurrency mostly received risk instead of sending it out. This shows that some industries depend heavily on AI, while others are more sheltered or only indirectly affected.
For healthcare administrators, these points mean:
Healthcare is one of the fields seeing clear benefits from AI, especially in the U.S., where costs and patient needs keep growing. AI tools like machine learning, natural language processing, computer vision, robotics, and big data analysis have already improved diagnosis, personalized treatment, clinical decisions, and managing resources.
Healthcare managers and IT teams can use AI in these areas:
These uses make workflows smoother, reduce manual work, and lower the chance of errors that could cause harm or extra costs.
A practical AI use in healthcare is workflow automation, which helps with daily tasks that usually take up a lot of time and effort. Phone call handling—like booking appointments and answering questions—often needs a lot of staff time.
Companies like Simbo AI build AI systems to manage front-office phone calls. These AI tools can answer calls, book appointments, remind patients, and handle basic questions. This lowers the workload on receptionists and administrative staff, letting them focus on more complex tasks.
Front-office AI automation benefits healthcare practices in these ways:
Using AI in workflow automation improves patient experience and makes operations more efficient, which is important for healthcare providers in the U.S. who want better service without higher costs.
The ability of healthcare groups to use AI well depends a lot on having the right infrastructure. As shown in Phase 2 of AI adoption, cloud services from Amazon AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud are crucial. They provide the scalable computing power AI applications need.
Healthcare managers and IT staff must work with or use such cloud services. These systems offer:
Without strong infrastructure, healthcare cannot fully use AI to improve care and cut costs. Investing in these systems helps avoid interruptions and supports smooth AI use.
Looking forward, AI use in healthcare will continue to grow. Future improvements may include real-time patient monitoring with smart devices, better virtual health assistants, and smarter prediction models that customize treatments for each person.
Healthcare leaders and owners will need to:
Knowing how industries connect during AI adoption, how economic risks move between sectors, and how automation helps workflow will help U.S. healthcare leaders use AI better.
Artificial Intelligence is no longer just an idea far in the future. It is now changing how healthcare and related industries work together. For U.S. medical practice managers, owners, and IT teams, using AI means accepting a change that touches hardware, infrastructure, processes, and workers. Those who understand and work through these connected steps will be in a better place to gain both financial benefits and improved patient care.
The four phases of AI adoption are: 1) Nvidia and the Emergence of AI Technologies, 2) Infrastructure Expansion, 3) Revenue Enhancement through AI Integration, and 4) Productivity and Efficiency Gains.
Phase 1 is characterized by the emergence of foundational technologies, particularly in the semiconductor industry, led by companies like Nvidia that produce essential hardware for AI operations.
Phase 2 focuses on infrastructure expansion, highlighting the growing importance of cloud computing, energy utilities, telecommunications, data centers, and the need for specialized chips to support AI applications.
In Phase 3, AI integration in healthcare includes applications in diagnostics, personalized medicine, and patient management systems, creating new revenue opportunities and enhancing operational efficiency.
Phase 4 leverages AI for operational efficiency across industries such as manufacturing, professional services, transportation, agriculture, and healthcare, driving productivity improvements and cost reductions.
Semiconductor companies, especially those producing GPUs, are crucial in Phase 1, as they provide the hardware required for AI’s computational power and serve as the foundation for further developments.
In Phase 2, robust infrastructure, including cloud services, data centers, and renewable energy sources, is essential for meeting the energy and computing demands of AI applications.
Phase 3 sees diverse industries, including finance, retail, and healthcare, leveraging AI for enhanced products and services, resulting in new business models and improved customer experiences.
In Phase 3, AI’s integration into the automotive industry includes advancements in driver-assistance systems and autonomous vehicles, creating new revenue streams and enhancing vehicle safety and efficiency.
The interconnectedness highlights how foundational technologies in earlier phases support transformative applications in subsequent phases, leading to widespread economic impacts and efficiencies across sectors.