The Future of Care: early accounts reveal how our relationship with artificial intelligence is changing
Whilst artificial intelligence is rapidly making its way into clinical practice, research and university education, new provisions of the European AI Act will come into force on 2 August, including transparency requirements for certain interactive and generative systems. People must be informed when they interact with an AI system, and certain artificially generated or manipulated content must be identifiable. The regulatory framework reinforces a need that is already evident in healthcare settings: to train professionals capable of understanding these tools, evaluating their results and using them competently, critically and responsibly.
The initial testimonies gathered as part of the The Future of Care initiative reveal a common thread. Although coming from different backgrounds – medicine, nursing, psychiatry, neonatal intensive care and biotechnology – the participants describe a similar evolution in the way they use and interpret artificial intelligence. For some, the change mainly concerns the method. Francesca Fiori Nastro, a paediatrician in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Palermo’s Ospedale Civico, explains that she overcame her initial uncertainty by adopting a working approach: asking precise questions, providing the necessary information and critically evaluating the answers. AI can support her in preparing discharge plans, handover procedures and creating clear information materials for families, freeing up time for patient care and building relationships [read AI as a care multiplier].
Michela Cudemo, a student of Medical Biotechnology at the University of Naples Federico II, has developed a more concrete vision of integrating AI into research and healthcare workflows. Source verification, the identification of biases and human supervision become essential parts of the process. Her focus is primarily on the analysis of biological data, the discovery of biomarkers and the development of precision medicine [read From Curiosity to Awareness].
For those who work with patients on a daily basis, other dimensions come to the fore. Fernando Corinto, a psychiatrist, now uses AI tools to consult guidelines, investigate drug interactions and tailor his communication to different audiences. This journey has led him to reflect more carefully on privacy, data anonymisation and the doctor’s responsibility. In his field, the ability to interpret and mediate the algorithm’s responses takes on particular significance, because every person has a history and a clinical condition that are irreducibly unique [read Interpret before deciding].
Luca D’Antonio, a trainer, nurse and driver for Rome’s Ares 118 emergency service, identifies practical applications in training, the review of protocols, the management of hospital patient flows and the organisation of local services. In an emergency, the operator’s ‘mind and eye’ remain decisive.
This knowledge enables technology to be integrated into day-to-day work, whilst maintaining a solid foundation of core skills and the ability to make decisions in the field [read Making Decisions in an Emergency].
A significant perspective is also emerging amongst students. Emanuele Capuano, a fourth-year Medicine and Surgery student at Federico II, regards artificial intelligence as an integral part of university education and future professional practice. The programme has consolidated the knowledge he had already acquired and strengthened his interest in applications within precision medicine, the processing of clinical and genomic data, and prevention [read Preparing for a Changing Field of Medicine].
Taken together, these accounts provide the first qualitative evidence of the change brought about by the project. Trust, the ability to verify information, a focus on professional responsibility and an awareness of the value of the care relationship are all growing. Training thus becomes the space in which technological innovation is understood, discussed and translated into practices capable of improving professionals’ work and the quality of care.
From stories to indicators of change
The five experiences gathered so far are the first signs of a change affecting the way in which healthcare professionals and future professionals are learning to integrate artificial intelligence into their daily practice. Whilst scientific research measures the effectiveness of algorithms – for example, their ability to improve a diagnosis, reduce response times or increase clinical accuracy – a training project observes another level of impact: the development of the skills needed to adopt these technologies in an informed, critical and responsible manner.
The stories of Francesca, Fernando, Luca, Michela and Emanuele reveal some common themes. The way people view artificial intelligence is changing: initial curiosity or scepticism is giving way to a confidence grounded in knowledge. Professional practices are changing: these tools are being integrated into study, research, communication and patient care activities. A sense of responsibility is being strengthened: there is a growing focus on verifying outputs, data protection and the irreplaceable role of human judgement. And, above all, a new ability is emerging to envisage how innovation can improve day-to-day work without losing sight of the relationship with the patient. These are changes that cannot be measured by a clinical indicator, but which make it possible to adopt the innovations produced by research. In this sense, the contribution of the Il Futuro della Cura project is enabling: it supports professionals, researchers and students in developing the skills needed to transform the potential of artificial intelligence into value for the healthcare system and for people. The stories to follow will continue to enrich this account, allowing us to observe not only the evolution of individual career paths, but also how the system’s capacity to embrace and utilise innovation effectively, ethically and sustainably grows over time.
