Augmented intelligence: An emerging paradigm for AI in healthcare

Abstract

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming healthcare, providing tools that support diagnosis, streamline workflows and enhance patient outcomes. However, its adoption has been uneven—hindered by ethical, legal and operational concerns. We propose that augmented intelligence (AugI)—AI designed to enhance, rather than replace, human decision-making—is the most practical and ethically sound model for integrating AI into healthcare. Key challenges in AI adoption include responsibility gaps, stakeholder resistance and outdated expectations about how clinicians should work. AugI provides a middle ground: preserving human oversight while leveraging the power of machine learning. As AI becomes an indispensable part of modern medicine, healthcare systems must shift toward a paradigm that embraces AI as a collaborative partner.