The history of medicine has been developing rapidly for centuries and has fundamentally changed human life. When Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin in 1928, he laid the foundation for modern antibiotic therapies and saved millions of lives. The introduction of computed tomography in 1971 marked a milestone in medical diagnostics, as it allowed doctors to gain detailed insights into the inside of the human body for the first time. Today, medicine once again stands at a revolutionary turning point with the introduction of artificial intelligence.
Since 2025: The First Hospital Led by AI
In recent years, artificial intelligence has gained increasing importance. It is used to write texts, support us in online searches, and answer questions across a wide range of topics. AI has also found numerous applications in medicine and is now even taking over an entire hospital.
In 2025, a place was created in Beijing, China, that could set a precedent for the future. Tsinghua University developed the so-called Agent Hospital. In this hospital, patients do not encounter human doctors, but rather robotics and artificial intelligence. All medical processes are simulated, including medical history taking, diagnosis, therapy, and follow-up care. The “AI doctors” have acquired their knowledge from 40 human physicians from various medical specialties.
If this model proves successful, it could soon be implemented in other countries as well. Hospitals in Europe and the United States are facing similar challenges, including staff shortages, overworked medical personnel, rising patient numbers, high administrative burdens, increasing cost pressure, long waiting times for patients, and deficits in digitalization.
Many medical institutions are already searching for solutions and have found them in AI for hospitals, which is being deployed as a fully integrated digital workforce. These systems take over tasks such as medical documentation, coding of treatment data, appointment scheduling, and patient intake, working together as a coordinated team. Patient data is seamlessly transferred between individual AI modules, accelerating workflows, reducing errors, and significantly relieving doctors and nursing staff.
Improved Early Detection Thanks to Artificial Intelligence
AI systems are not only used to improve efficiency and relieve medical staff from organizational tasks. They can also help achieve greater accuracy in medical diagnoses. Through in-depth analysis and the evaluation of countless data points within a very short time, even the smallest changes in medical images can be detected.
A recent example illustrates how significant this advantage can be: In Scotland, the NHS tested an AI tool called “Mia,” which correctly flagged all detected suspicious cases in more than 10,000 mammograms and additionally identified tiny signs of breast cancer in 11 women that had previously been overlooked by human doctors. As a result, the tumors were detected at a very early stage, significantly improving the chances of successful treatment and recovery.
Artificial intelligence can also provide valuable support in medical imaging. The analysis of MRI, CT, and X-ray scans, as well as complex image patterns, supports medical professionals and serves as a “second opinion.” Compared to humans, AI systems can evaluate image data with pixel-level precision and without being affected by fatigue or time pressure. By comparing scans with thousands or even millions of similar images, the system quickly identifies anomalies that may indicate an early stage of disease. In addition, potentially suspicious areas are highlighted, enabling radiologists to make faster, more precise, and more confident decisions.
Must Read: The Rise of Artificial Intelligence
