Tradeoffs Should I Trust AI to Diagnose Me?
Oct 30, 2025
Join physician and New Yorker writer Dhruv Khullar as he navigates the promising yet perilous world of AI in healthcare. He explores how AI can expedite diagnostics but warns of potential dangers, such as cognitive de-skilling and reliance on faulty chatbot advice. Khullar emphasizes using AI as a tool for guidance rather than a definitive source, while highlighting its ability to enhance communication for non-English speakers. He discusses the balance of human judgment with technology's capabilities, urging caution and accountability in AI integration.
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Five Days To The Right Diagnosis
- Dhruv describes a patient with shortness of breath who received multiple treatments before the true diagnosis emerged.
- After five days of false starts they diagnosed interstitial lung disease from a subtle imaging finding.
AI Is Already Exceptionally Capable
- AI models can deliver correct diagnoses on very complex cases and will play a larger role in care.
- The key challenge is integrating them into clinical practice safely and effectively.
Cabot Outperformed In A Case Showdown
- At Harvard, an AI named Cabot matched top human diagnosticians and explained its reasoning while citing literature.
- Dhruv noted it produced that performance in the time it takes to brew a cup of coffee.