A plea to all the AI companies in the world: If You Think a Booth Demo Is Enough to Win Healthcare, Think Again!
by Rajendra Singh MD, Co-Founder, PathPresenter
Director of Dermatopathology and Digital Pathology,
Summit Health
You’ve created spectacular tools that could reshape healthcare. Yet in the real world? Adoption is lagging. Booths are buzzing, headlines are glowing — but clinics remain skeptical.
The problem isn’t your tech. It’s building trust and confidence.
When learning to ride a bike, no one starts by racing down the highway. You wobble. You fall. And you have someone nearby, guiding you, encouraging you, helping you build confidence.
Clinicians adopting AI technology need the same kind of support. Because once they’ve practiced in the metaphorical “empty parking lot,” THEN and only then, can they confidently ride out into real clinical practice — balancing, steering, maybe even showing off a little (“Look, Ma, no hands!”).
How AI Companies Can Build That Trust:
- Invest in Hands-On Training: Move beyond passive demos. Provide opportunities for clinicians to actively use the AI in realistic scenarios but without the risks.
- Discuss the Risks and Limitations: Understanding of the risks and limitations are vital for ensuring right use of the AI for the right patient at the right time.
- Offer Guided Support: Create an environment where clinicians feel supported, where questions are welcomed and learning is encouraged.
- Emphasize Partnership, Not Replacement: Reinforce that AI is here to support clinicians’ expertise — not replace it.
Clinicians don’t want more polished demos. They want real-world practice — a way to wobble, fall, and learn without risking patient safety (or their licenses). Just like learning to ride a bike, confidence comes from safe, guided experiences, not from watching someone else ride a unicycle across a tightrope.
Your AI might be brilliant. But until it feels trustworthy, it’ll stay brilliant — and unused.
Real-world success starts with building real-world trust. Let us work together to build trust and confidence.
About the Author
Dr. Rajendra Singh is Director of Dermatopathology at Summit Health and co-founder of PathPresenter. He serves as a member of the Digital and Computational Pathology Committee of the CAP, Editorial Board of the WHO for Classification of tumors, 5th Edition and the Board of Digital Pathology Association.
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