5 ways AI will make health care more human in 2026

ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. — For years, artificial intelligence has been on the fringes of health care – full of promise but often disconnected from the everyday experiences of patients and caregivers. That’s changing, says Robert Purinton, chief AI officer for AdventHealth, who predicts this is the year AI moves “from vibes to value.”

That value isn’t abstract or technical. It is felt through the daily experiences of caring for patients and supporting caregivers.

“AI adoption should not be about replacing people with technology. It should support people across the organization, creating more time for human connection, sound clinical judgment and compassionate care,” Purinton said.

Based on his work leading AI at one of the nation’s largest faith-based health care systems, Purinton offers five predictions for how AI will shape care this year, with patients and caregivers at the center.

Prediction 1: AI will give time back to patients by giving time back to caregivers

Reducing administrative tasks has become a key opportunity to give clinicians more time with patients. Purinton believes AI’s most important role will be reducing that burden.

“If we can make those tasks take significantly less time, caregivers can focus on what truly matters. That includes being with patients, listening to them and helping them feel cared for,” he explained.

At AdventHealth, early AI efforts have focused on time-intensive work like documentation, chart review and administrative preparation. Success isn’t defined by experimentation or novelty, but by real value – returning time to clinicians so they can focus on care.

Prediction 2: AI will become the front door to health care

Many people are already turning to AI with health questions. Purinton predicts that this behavior will become more visible and more structured, whether health systems are ready or not.

“The opportunity for health care is not to compete with that behavior, but to guide it responsibly. When designed with care and accountability, AI can serve as a trusted first step -- helping people make sense of symptoms, understand their options and feel less overwhelmed at the start of their care journey,” Purinton said.

Rather than replacing clinical judgment, AI can assist patients to ask better questions and reach the right care sooner. This “front door” moment meets people where they are and helps them take the next step with confidence and clarity.

Prediction 3: AI will help patients get the right care in the right setting

Not every health concern requires a hospital visit. Purinton predicts AI will increasingly help patients manage lower-acuity conditions at home when appropriate, including cold and flu symptoms, allergies, mild stomach discomfort, simple skin conditions and basic follow-up questions about medications.

“If AI can help patients and their providers select the right venue of care when appropriate, rather than automatically coming into the hospital, that can be a better experience,” Purinton said.

By reducing unnecessary visits, AI can ease strain on the health care system while giving patients more clarity and confidence about their care options. This approach expands access and choice, without replacing the hospital experience when in-person, specialized care is truly needed.

Prediction 4: Trust in AI will grow through families and caregivers

“Trust in AI will not develop the same way for everyone. It will often grow through the people who patients already rely on -- family members and caregivers who help guide care decisions,” Purinton noted.

In many families, care decisions are shaped collaboratively, with loved ones interpreting information, weighing options and determining next steps -- especially when patients are navigating uncertainty or stress.

By supporting caregivers with clearer, more accessible guidance, patients can benefit from AI without being asked to adopt unfamiliar technology themselves. In many cases, AI’s impact will be felt quietly, through better-informed conversations, shared decision-making and greater confidence in the care path ahead.

Prediction 5: AI success will depend on fixing workflows first

Purinton believes AI works best when it supports people, rather than trying to solve health care challenges on its own.

“The AI transformation is fundamentally a workflow change. You need strong processes that are worth automating,” he emphasized.

That mindset has shaped AdventHealth’s approach, with every AI initiative tied to clear measures of success -- including time saved, efficiency gained and reliability improved -- rather than broad experimentation. Organizations that improve how work is done before applying AI will be better positioned to deliver care that feels consistent, dependable and human for patients.

A more human future for health care

For Purinton, AI’s promise lies in its ability to support people, not replace them. When applied thoughtfully, it can simplify access, reduce friction and give caregivers more time to deliver compassionate, whole-person care.

“Healing happens through human connection. AI should remove obstacles to that, not create new ones,” he said. That is where he believes AI’s true value will be realized in 2026 -- not in the technology itself, but in the human moments it helps protect.