A recent poll by NBC News and the Decision Desk found that 70 percent of American adults feel more worried than excited about the rise of artificial intelligence (AI). While there is significant concern about its broader implications, many remain optimistic about its use in scientific research and medicine. Dr. Dhruv Khullar, a physician at Weill Cornell Medicine and a writer for The New Yorker, highlights that AI is already making a tangible impact in healthcare, particularly in administrative tasks, helping patients navigate their care, and advancing drug discovery. In hospitals and clinics, AI tools are being used to take notes during patient visits, allowing doctors to focus more on their patients rather than on typing. These tools also assist in managing schedules and providing instructions for medications, especially for those with complex or serious health conditions. This helps reduce the administrative burden on medical staff and improves the quality of patient interactions. In the field of drug discovery, AI is playing a growing role by helping scientists identify potential molecules and biological targets for new treatments. This process, which typically takes years, is being significantly accelerated by AI’s ability to analyze large amounts of data and generate potential drug candidates. However, Khullar points out that while AI can be valuable in the early stages of drug development, later stages—such as clinical trials and regulatory approval—still rely heavily on human judgment and oversight. Khullar acknowledges that there are valid concerns about the reliability of AI systems. While they can provide useful insights, they can also make mistakes. He emphasizes that AI should be viewed as a tool to support, rather than replace, human expertise in healthcare. Despite these challenges, he believes that healthcare is well-positioned to benefit from AI advancements and that the potential benefits of using AI in the field outweigh the risks. He urges caution against halting AI research and implementation, stressing that even modest applications of AI can lead to meaningful improvements in patient care.