• The Moment AI Arrived in the Clinic: Insights from the SAIL 2025 Year in Review

    Pierre Elias, M.D., Kameron Collin Black, D.O., M.P.H., Payal Chandak, B.A., Elizabeth Healey, Ph.D., Rachit Kumar, Ph.D., Michelle M. Li, Ph.D., Hugo Morales, M.D., Brett Beaulieu Jones, Ph.D., and Emily Alsentzer, Ph.D.

    Abstract

    The past year saw the unprecedented adoption of AI in clinical practice, most notably through the rapid integration of language models into administrative workflows and increased clinician reliance on chatbots for diagnostic and management recommendations. Recent clinical trials and economic analyses have demonstrated that some AI applications meaningfully improve patient outcomes and offer cost-effective approaches to care. However, not all AI tools have demonstrated a clear benefit. Companies have encountered legal challenges related to AI-driven insurance decisions, and uncertainty remains regarding optimal clinician�AI interaction and effective regulatory oversight. Drawing from the Symposium on AI for Learning Health Systems (SAIL) 2025 Year in Review, this perspective examines six key areas that defined clinical AI from 2024 to 2025. We highlight areas where AI tools demonstrated meaningful clinical and operational impact and where challenges persist. Finally, we highlight critical uncertainties the medical community must confront to ensure the enthusiasm surrounding clinical AI translates into lasting clinical impact.