A patient recently arrived at a consultation with a printed explanation of knee replacement generated by an AI system. Recovery timelines were highlighted and complication rates underlined. The only question was whether the information was accurate. That exchange captures the commercial reality now facing healthcare technology providers. AI in medicine will not be judged solely on performance. It will be judged on trust.
Generating coherent medical explanations is no longer sufficient. What matters is whether the output can withstand scrutiny from patients, clinicians and institutions that carry legal and ethical responsibility. In this environment, credibility is becoming the primary asset. It must be built into the structure of the system. In clinical settings that means grounding outputs in curated, peer reviewed evidence. It means defining the scope of use in precise terms rather than implying broad competence. It means making sources traceable, limitations visible and uncertainty measurable. It also means maintaining human oversight as the final accountable authority.
The patient with the printout was not asking for disruption. He was asking for clarity. That expectation will become common. As AI tools increasingly shape patient understanding before they enter the clinic, healthcare providers and technology companies will be judged on whether their systems enhance or undermine trust.
Brava Health is a private company that seeks to create a future where everyone is equipped with greater health clarity, agility, and foresight through truly individualized care experiences across the spectrum of needs: critical care, wellness, and longevity.
