If nothing else, the concept of artificial intelligence is polarizing — opinions on the topic tend to be very strong. While there are many subtleties in the viewpoints, they generally fall into two camps. The first consists of early adopters and technophiles who are practically buzzing with excitement about AI’s potential impact. The second camp is, to put it mildly, a bit more hesitant. Due to myriad reasons, they are reluctant — often antagonistically so — to place their trust in a computer system.

As someone who would place themselves in a more neutral position, I can’t help but feel that both sides are correct, at least to a certain degree.

Rapidly evolving AI tools and their potential impact on the industry

AI and other predictive modeling and analytics tools have reached a point of sophistication where it is obvious they have the potential to provide tremendous value. At the same time, we have seen the potential for technology used poorly to have a catastrophic impact where it was originally intended to help. Given our roles within the life sciences and healthcare industries, we must proceed with care — every action, or inaction, carries real consequences to the health and well-being of people worldwide.

As technology becomes more accessible and affordable, the drive for adoption will only grow. At the same time, we are seeing change and growth at an unprecedented rate, with advances emerging faster than most of us can realistically grasp. The reality is that we may never have a simple answer that will guide our actions, in fact the questions will likely only become more complex and challenging as we move forward.

This doesn’t mean we don’t have an obligation to ask these questions, nor does it allow us to walk away simply because it’s too difficult. Instead, we must challenge ourselves to be more thoughtful, responsible, and foster an open dialogue about the path forward for our industry. Regardless of your opinion, it is important we all engage on this topic. Each of us brings unique perspectives and value — whether by raising overlooked concerns or clarifying terms like AI, which often become loaded with a connotation outside their form.

Critical conversations on the future of clinical development

Considering all of this, I invite you to join me on March 25, 2025, at 10 am ET for what I hope will be the first of many conversations about the ways data and analytics are disrupting our industry. In this live discussion, I will be joined by Allie DeLonay from the Data Ethics Practice at the SAS Institute to discuss the ethical use of artificial intelligence — both broadly and considering some of the nuances unique to clinical development.

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