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's AI adoption journey began with data collection innovations in 2022, using chatbots and AI agents (AVA program), progressing rapidly to over 1000 AI applications in production by mid-2025, focusing on claims processing, customer interactions, and resource allocation.
McKesson has progressively integrated AI and machine learning throughout its operations from 2019 to early 2026, focusing on healthcare supply chain optimization, oncology data analytics, and customer engagement, with key partnerships including Google Cloud and Microsoft for AI infrastructure and solutions.
Cigna has progressively adopted AI since 2019, initially focusing on improving patient outcomes and adherence for chronic disease management, evolving to deploying advanced generative AI tools like virtual assistants in 2025 that enhance customer experience by providing personalized, conversational support regarding benefits, claims, and care options.
Cardinal Health has progressively integrated AI into its healthcare and supply chain operations since 2019, advancing from oncology care insights and AI-enabled clinical decision support to launching the Navista AI platform and acquiring AI technology firms by 2024.
Elevance Health has steadily increased its adoption and integration of AI technologies from 2023 through late 2025, moving from diagnostic enhancements and digital concierge care for 40,000 members in 2023 to advanced generative AI usage and comprehensive AI certification programs for over 38,000 employees by 2025.
HCA Healthcare has progressively expanded its deployment of AI technologies from pilot programs in Q3 2023 involving Google's generative AI for emergency room physicians and clinical documentation, to broad network-wide adoption including ambient AI platforms and workflow automation by Q3 2025, covering nearly 200 hospitals and 2000 care points.
Johnson & Johnson has rapidly increased AI adoption from 2024 to 2025, shifting from broad experimentation with nearly 900 AI use cases to a focused strategy targeting high-impact areas like surgery, drug discovery, and supply chain management.
Merck has progressively integrated advanced AI technologies into its drug discovery and development pipeline from late 2023 through 2025, including generative AI, machine learning, and internal foundation models like TEDDY. Key collaborations with institutions such as the Vector Institute, BCG, McKinsey, and biotech firms (e.g., Variational AI, Biolojic Design) have enhanced AI capabilities, enabling faster target identification and molecule design, exemplified by the AI-designed KRAS G12C inhibitor MK-1084.
Pfizer has progressively scaled its AI capabilities from early machine learning applications in drug safety and discovery (e.g., Paxlovid development) to advanced generative AI platforms like 'Charlie' for marketing and consumer digital products powered by generative AI as of early 2025.
46 Use Cases in Healthcare
| Company | Use Case |
|---|---|
| HCA Healthcare | Clinical Decision AI applications help physicians detect complex conditions early, such as cerebral aneurysms, by integrating predictive algorithms into clinical workflows, facilitating timely intervention and improved outcomes. traditional |
| Johnson & Johnson | Surgical Robotics J&J integrates AI-driven simulation and physical AI capabilities to develop robotic surgical platforms such as the MONARCH™ system, improving precision and extending minimally invasive treatment options. agentic |
| Elevance Health | Virtual Assistance Elevance upgraded its Virtual Assistant tools enabling members to interact with AI-driven chatbots for benefit inquiries and support, improving customer service responsiveness and convenience. agentic |
| Cardinal Health | Supply Forecasting AI-driven demand forecasting models integrated into Cardinal Health’s pharmaceutical distribution network enhance inventory management and reduce waste. traditional |
| Elevance Health | Behavioral Health Expansion Through a partnership with OpenAI, Elevance Health is expanding behavioral health service lines and integrating AI technologies to enhance clinical decision-making and patient engagement in this domain. agentic |
| HCA Healthcare | Workforce Optimization AI-driven predictive analytics optimize nurse staffing levels and staff scheduling by accurately forecasting patient volumes and care needs, leading to operational efficiency and better care delivery. traditional |
| Johnson & Johnson | Remote Monitoring AI-enhanced remote patient monitoring systems are improving clinical trial outcomes and patient treatment by enabling continuous, data-driven healthcare outside traditional clinical settings. traditional |
| Cigna | Reimbursement Automation Cigna utilizes AI to enforce new reimbursement policies by automatically adjusting claim levels (downcoding) without manual clinical review, aiming to optimize accuracy and costs but raising concerns about fairness and patient access among providers. traditional |
| Cigna | Clinical Imaging Cigna covers AI-powered cardiovascular imaging software that enhances diagnostic accuracy and care decisions for patients with chest pain, enabling more precise cardiovascular phenotyping and supporting cost-effective clinical management. traditional |
| UnitedHealth | Member Support UnitedHealthcare deploys conversational AI chatbots and digital assistants to provide personalized support, streamline provider searches, offer cost estimates, and assist members in navigating healthcare options. generative |