As AI becomes more involved in healthcare, I often wonder about something beyond accuracy and efficiency. Can AI truly recreate the empathy patients feel from another human being?
Not just answers or explanations - but the warmth of a person sitting beside you during difficult moments. The reassurance in someone’s tone. The feeling of being heard when you are overwhelmed and confused.
I remember a patient coming to me with all the reports of her mother, unsure about what to do next or how to proceed. During our conversation, she told me that one of the reasons she came back was because of the warmth and kindness she felt during her mother’s care. Not just the treatment itself, but the way things were explained; calmly and kindly. In a way that made difficult decisions feel a little less frightening.
AI may eventually learn how to respond with comforting words but can something trained to simulate empathy truly make people feel emotionally safe the same way another human can?
And maybe the bigger question is: As healthcare becomes more technological, how do we make sure we do not lose the human side of healing along the way?
Curious to hear what others think - especially people working in healthcare or AI.