The COVID-19 pandemic has brought digital technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) to the center stage in all industries. The trend is also observed in healthcare industries as reported by a report released by Deloitte in late October. 

The report, Deloitte's 2020 State of AI, explores the adoption and management of AI technologies in health organisations, as well as the benefits that have been reaped by them. The survey for the report was conducted in late 2019, just before COVID-19 took the world by storm. 

"The pandemic opened the aperture for digital technologies such as AI to solve problems and highlighted the importance of AI," the report states. "Even though the survey was fielded before the public health crisis, some of the outcomes and challenges that healthcare organizations had in using AI prior to the pandemic will likely continue to be instructive as health systems, health plans, and pharmacy benefit managers develop their new AI investment strategies."

The report found that almost 73% of healthcare organizations are planning to increase AI-focused tech and software funding. Other findings of the report are as following:

• One-third of the organisations are using AI technologies to make processes more efficient 
• Health care organizations reported their top AI risk concern is the cost of the technologies (36%).

While the report was based on findings that reflect the industry's investments and sentiments before the pandemic, the findings are more relevant than ever today, as the pandemic has reinforced the position as more and more healthcare systems are going virtual, with greater need for collaborations across departments, institutes and countries.

"Health care organizations willing to lean into AI adoption stand to gain many benefits, such as more cost efficiencies, faster speed to market and improved productivity. However, those positive outcomes have to balance the risks any new technology might introduce into their workflow. By identifying and managing these specific risks early, health care companies can enable faster and more consistent adoption of AI," said Dan Ressler, principal and U.S. advisory life sciences leader, Deloitte Risk and Financial Advisory, Deloitte & Touche LLP.