When AI Challenges the Diagnosis: What History and Technology Reveal
A recent STAT analysis examining studies in which tools like ChatGPT outperform physicians in certain diagnostic tasks has sparked renewed discussion about what diagnosis means in medical practice. Dr. Krishnan contributes historical and clinical perspective to this conversation, emphasizing that diagnosis is not merely pattern recognition but a deeply human process shaped by context, narrative, and responsibility. While artificial intelligence may excel at synthesizing large amounts of data, Dr. Krishnan highlights that clinical judgment, ethical reasoning, and patient-centered care remain essential elements of medicine. The piece invites readers to consider how emerging technologies can reshape, but not replace, the human dimensions of diagnosis and care.