The next time you have a medical check-up, you might receive a call from Ana, an AI program developed by Hippocratic AI. Unlike human nurses, Ana offers 24/7 assistance in multiple languages, providing appointment preparation and answering questions. Many hospitals are adopting AI technologies to enhance patient monitoring, emergency response, and efficiency, leaving some nurses concerned about the implications for patient care. Nursing unions argue that AI technologies threaten to undermine nurses' critical expertise, leading to a push for regulations governing AI's role in healthcare. Critics like Michelle Mahon, from the National Nurses United union, fear that AI could replace human caregivers. The group has organized protests to advocate for nurses’ input on AI usage and to protect them from disciplinary actions for ignoring potentially flawed automated recommendations. The debate intensified with comments from health officials suggesting AI could effectively replace human doctors in certain settings. While Hippocratic AI initially marketed its services as a lower-cost alternative to registered nurses, it has since shifted focus to emphasize thorough testing and reliability without commenting directly to the media. AI technologies have raised concerns about generating false alarms and providing misleading advice.

In one case, a nurse encountered a situation where automated alerts contradicted his assessment of a patient's needs. Many nurses report that AI can lead to distraction with unnecessary alerts, complicating patient monitoring, as the technology can misinterpret normal bodily functions as emergencies. Experts like Michelle Collins acknowledge that while technology can augment nursing care, it should not replace the human element, particularly as the nursing workforce faces significant shortages. As more nurses leave the profession, AI is seen as a potential solution, aiding rather than replacing human caregivers by streamlining information gathering and patient communication. For instance, at the University of Arkansas Medical Sciences, an AI assistant is used to contact patients and manage scheduling, ensuring transparency about its non-human nature. Other companies are exploring more interactive AI, such as avatars for video calls, aimed at engaging patients more personally. While such AI solutions may benefit healthier individuals, questions remain about their effectiveness for the more critically ill patients who dominate healthcare resources. Concerns persist about whether these technologies can adequately address the complex needs of the most vulnerable patients in the healthcare system. The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from various educational foundations, but retains full autonomy over its content.