Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare Companies
We analyzed the enterprise AI use cases of 9 healthcare companies to understand trends, impact, and insights.
Healthcare companies' adoption of AI
Overview
UnitedHealth Group has aggressively expanded AI usage, with over 1000 AI applications in production by mid-2025, covering claims processing, member interactions, and resource allocation.
McKesson has progressively scaled its AI adoption from 2019, initially focusing on data centralization and AI for healthcare predictions, to advanced AI-powered oncology data processing and automation by early 2026, showcasing a sustained increasing trend in AI integration and impact.
Cigna has progressively integrated AI technology since 2019, evolving from early AI-driven patient treatment adherence monitoring to comprehensive generative AI-powered digital tools by 2025, including a widely adopted virtual assistant for customer service and personalized healthcare navigation.
Cardinal Health has progressively integrated AI technologies into its healthcare and pharmaceutical operations from 2019 through early 2026, with notable initiatives including the Navista AI platform launched in 2021, a strategic acquisition of Specialty Networks in 2024 for $1.2 billion to expand AI analytics capabilities, and the establishment of an AI Center of Excellence led by Anagha Vyas by mid-2025, signaling deep commitment to AI-driven innovation.
Elevance Health has progressively integrated AI across multiple domains including digital concierge care, diagnostics enhancement, operational efficiency, and personalized patient outreach from 2023 through early 2026, demonstrating a trend of increasing adoption and strategic investment in AI-driven healthcare solutions.
HCA Healthcare has steadily advanced its AI integration from Q3 2023 through early 2026, focusing on generative AI and traditional machine learning to improve clinical workflows, reduce administrative burden, and enhance patient safety across its network of nearly 200 hospitals.
Johnson & Johnson has progressively integrated AI into multiple facets of its healthcare operations by partnering with NVIDIA and launching initiatives like the Polyphonic™ AI Fund for Surgery, focusing on surgical AI applications and drug discovery.
Merck has rapidly embraced AI technologies from late 2023 through early 2026, implementing generative AI, machine learning, and agentic AI tools to enhance drug discovery, clinical trial efficiency, and precision medicine.
Pfizer has progressively scaled AI adoption from early adoption in 2014 to extensive, integrated AI use by 2025, covering drug discovery, clinical trial optimization, manufacturing, marketing, and procurement, with strategic leadership from Chief AI and Analytics Officer Berta Rodriguez-Hervas.
45 Use Cases in Healthcare
| Company | Use Case |
|---|---|
| Merck & Co. | Precision Medicine Merck collaborates with Mayo Clinic linking AI and clinical data to strengthen early drug development decisions and tailor treatments based on advanced analytics and patient genomics. traditional |
| Cardinal Health | Ecommerce Efficiency Leveraging AI to expand and optimize ecommerce operations, Cardinal Health enhances order processing accuracy and customer experience, contributing to revenue growth in 2026. traditional |
| McKesson | Supply Chain Automation McKesson integrates AI and automation technologies into its logistics and specialty pharmacy operations to optimize distribution efficiency and reduce operational costs. agentic |
| McKesson | Administrative Automation McKesson leverages AI tools such as intelligent virtual assistants and chatbots to automate routine administrative tasks, reducing provider burden and allowing healthcare professionals to focus more on patient care. traditional |
| HCA Healthcare | Early Diagnosis HCA integrates AI-powered detection algorithms in neurological care, such as AI tools to identify cerebral aneurysms early, supporting physicians in clinical decision-making and improving patient outcomes. traditional |
| Pfizer | Procurement Automation Pfizer piloted autonomous AI agents to perform compliance and quality checks within procurement processes with human-in-the-loop oversight, streamlining vendor management and reducing manual effort. agentic |
| Johnson & Johnson | Robotic Surgery Advanced AI-driven robotics and physical AI capabilities support surgical robotics platforms such as MONARCH™ for urology, enhancing precision, enabling virtual operating room simulations, and improving surgical outcomes. agentic |
| Johnson & Johnson | Remote Monitoring Johnson & Johnson applies AI-powered remote patient monitoring systems to enhance patient care management, enabling real-time health tracking and improved clinical trial effectiveness. traditional |
| Elevance Health | Personalized Outreach AI-driven systems are used for personalized patient outreach via text, app, or email alerts designed to close care gaps and increase patient adherence to care plans. agentic |
| Elevance Health | Prior Authorization Elevance leverages AI within its Health OS platform to streamline prior authorization and clinical decision-making processes, shortening authorization times and reducing administrative workload for providers. agentic |