WASHINGTON, DC- Build American AI (BAAI), a 501 (c)(4) nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing America’s leadership in transformative technology, has released a comprehensive public report dispelling the narrative that artificial intelligence will destroy the highly skilled human workforce.
The report, titled “AI, Radiology, and the Future of Work,” uses 10 years of real-world data to prove that the field of radiology is experiencing unprecedented growth and assuming greater responsibilities thanks to AI.
Key findings include:
The number of radiologists in Medicare-affiliated practices in the United States increased from 30,723 in 2014 to 36,024 in 2023. It increased by 17.3 percent during the period when AI was supposed to replace radiologists. At Mayo Clinic, radiology staff has increased by 55 percent since 2016 and now stands at more than 400 people. The number of diagnostic radiology residency positions offered increased from 990 in 2016. From 2020 to 2024, it will be 1,017 people, achieving a record fill rate of 1,016 people. Radiology has become the single largest clinical use case for artificial intelligence, accounting for 723 of the 950 FDA-cleared AI/ML medical devices by 2024.
In November 2016, Jeffrey Hinton, a luminary in the field of artificial intelligence, declared that medical schools should “stop training radiologists now.” He claimed that AI will replace human skills within five years. Ten years later, this report proves otherwise.
Real-world implementation in hospitals shows that far from driving workforce reductions, AI is significantly improving downstream clinical efficiencies and saving patient lives. Northwestern Medicine found that using generative AI tools increased the efficiency of recording radiographs by 15.5% without any loss in clinical accuracy. Cedars-Sinai used an AI-assisted worklist triage system for pulmonary embolism, reducing length of stay by 26.3 percent.
Rather than fearing AI, Build American AI advises preparing America’s workforce to use the technology effectively. Radiology experience shows that workers succeed when they are given the tools.
About Build American AI
Build American AI is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization focused on advancing America’s leadership in artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies. The group promotes pro-innovation policies aimed at strengthening economic competitiveness, supporting job creation, and building public trust in AI. Through policy engagement, public education, and grassroots efforts, Build American AI works to keep America at the forefront of global innovation while expanding access to the benefits of AI across our communities.
