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The industry saw accelerated integration of AI into consumer devices, research infrastructure and clinical workflows, healthcare executives told MobiHealthNews. Legislation, policy changes, investment trends and cultural shifts have demonstrated how central AI is becoming within healthcare.
Here is Part 2 of what healthcare executives say are the most noteworthy surprises of 2025:
Sanjay Doddamani, founder and CEO of Guidehealth
The most significant surprise was the speed of maturity in conversational and voice-based AI. Tools that were expected to take years to reach utility became viable for intake, documentation summarization, patient communication and remote monitoring. This accelerated expectations for responsiveness and operating efficiency.
Another noteworthy development was the stronger regulatory guidance from CMS, ONC and state agencies on responsible AI use. Rather than slowing innovation, these frameworks encouraged more rigorous development and clearer accountability.
Finally, the market continued to shift toward integrated technology and services models. Many organizations moved from passive interest in value-based care to active pursuit, driven by rising denials, workforce shortages and the administrative weight of managing risk. Buyers increasingly sought partners that could deliver measurable performance rather than platforms that required additional staffing.
Cherry Drulis, director of healthcare mobile B2B for Samsung Electronics
One of the more noteworthy developments was the rapid acceleration of AI in healthcare, particularly in areas like personalized medicine and remote patient monitoring. This was especially clear at larger industry events, such as HLTH and HIMSS, where conversations focused on AI and validated use cases and implementation strategies.
Collaborations between technology companies and healthcare providers have also demonstrated how advancements in AI-powered diagnostic tools can be impactful, particularly across patient care.
Beyond that, the integration of AI into everyday consumer devices, such as smartphones and home appliances, has seen significant progress, which has been exciting to see.
Dan Nardi, CEO of Reimagine Care
I was surprised by how quickly patients embraced AI-enabled care once they experienced it. We anticipated resistance, particularly in cancer care where the human touch feels non-negotiable.
Instead, we found the opposite – patients appreciate having 24/7 access to support, faster response times and more personalized attention. The technology did not make care feel less human; it made it more responsive and accessible.
The other notable shift: Providers and payers are now actively seeking AI-powered solutions that can demonstrate clear ROI. The conversation has evolved from "prove this works" to "how fast can we scale this?"
Eirini Schlosser, founder and CEO of Dyania Health
A major surprise this year was the speed at which large health systems embraced AI for deeply operational tasks, especially those involving unstructured data. A few years ago, the idea of using AI to continuously screen EMRs for trial eligibility would have been viewed as experimental. Now, it’s becoming part of standard research infrastructure.
I was also struck by how regulators, ethicists and clinical leaders worked more closely together than in past AI cycles. Instead of debating AI in the abstract, conversations became more grounded in safety, transparency and bias monitoring – especially for high-stakes areas like oncology, neurology and rare disease.
On a cultural level, it was meaningful to see more women founders and technical leaders gaining recognition in the AI space, which has long skewed the other way.
Julius Bruch, CEO of Isaac Health
We now have stronger evidence supporting multidomain, lifestyle-based interventions in brain health. The U.S. POINTER study published earlier this year offered encouraging results around the impact of lifestyle medicine programs – which combine physical activity, nutrition, social engagement and cognitive stimulation – on brain health and cognition. For those of us working in dementia care, it reinforces the idea that brain health is a lifelong commitment.
Emily Greenberg, cofounder and president of Joy Parenting Club
The biggest shift was how quickly the industry moved from asking what AI can do to asking how we ensure it is meaningful, safe and responsible for everyday use. Novelty gave way to accountability. There is more scrutiny on bias, consent and context, and that is a positive correction.
A second major theme was the acceleration of micro-personalization. People want adaptive tools that reflect their individual needs and life stages, not generic algorithms. We saw real momentum toward systems that treat health and behavior as dynamic and diverse rather than static or universal.
Marten den Haring, CEO of Lirio
One of the biggest surprises this year is how HLS [health and life sciences] has become the global epicenter of the AI arms race due to its immense potential for both revolutionary scientific advancements and significant competition between countries and companies.
We are in a geopolitical innovation race to achieve technological leadership in AI, driven by the pursuit of economic benefits and the development of AI for national security and public health.
It is projected that worldwide AI spending will surpass $1 trillion in 2025, fueled by investments in AI infrastructure, data centers and research, with a significant portion dedicated to medicine and biosecurity. AI is dominating global capital flows and reshaping the M&A lifecycle.
AI is the primary driver of the surge in global M&A activity and investment with companies seeking to acquire AI capabilities as a strategic necessity for future competitiveness in AI-driven health tech, drug discovery and personalized medicine.
Laurent Martinot, CEO and cofounder of Sunrise
A few years ago, sleep apnea and sleep disorders were still considered more "niche" topics. Potentially influenced by consumer interest in sleep care through wearables and other devices, this year, they were central to discussions about overall health, including cardiovascular health, women’s health and even our social lives.
There was also an increase in insurer and health system partnerships with at-home diagnostics.
The appetite for health-monitoring wearables and clinical-grade tools continues to increase among populations. It’s further validation of what we have believed for years: People will invest in technologies that improve their health.
Ashley Rogers, chief product officer for Elation Health
The most noteworthy event was the passage of the Big Beautiful Bill, which is proving to be genuinely transformative for primary care by shifting payment models and prioritizing value-based care.
This major policy change created a profound new need for AI-native operational solutions to manage complex risk, optimize reimbursement and measure quality at scale. Its financial incentives have accelerated the adoption of our comprehensive AI solutions far beyond initial predictions.
Monica Cepak, CEO of Wisp
The biggest shift has been how openly women are talking about their health journeys. We are proud to see women's health providers create spaces and environments where women feel seen and safe to share about their health journey. Topics that used to be whispered about are now driving national conversations – we saw this with menopause especially. That cultural shift has fueled demand for services like ours.
On the industry side, regulatory tailwinds around virtual prescribing and at-home testing moved faster than expected, including the removal of the black box warning on HRT, which has opened the door for more innovation. And of course, AI moved from being a "future tool" to something clinicians actually rely on day to day.
Connor Landgraf, CEO and cofounder of Eko Health
One of the most consequential developments in 2025 was CMS’ decision to establish national reimbursement for AI-assisted cardiac analysis under the Outpatient Prospective Payment System.
For years, the conversation around AI in diagnostics has been full of promise but thin on sustainable payment pathways. This ruling was the first clear signal that federal policy is beginning to recognize AI not as an experimental add-on, but as a legitimate component of frontline clinical evaluation. It surprised many because reimbursement changes typically lag years behind technological progress; this time, payment policy moved far more quickly.
The decision also validated a broader trend: Regulators and payers are starting to view AI as a means to close critical gaps in early disease detection, especially in cardiology where delayed diagnosis carries enormous downstream costs. For clinicians, it marked a rare moment where innovation, economics and clinical need aligned, and it set a precedent that will shape how future AI technologies integrate into routine care.
