From promise to impact: A roadmap for advancing health equity through AI

Widespread health disparities continue to create significant barriers to equitable healthcare in the United States (US), with differences in access and outcomes driven by race, ethnicity, gender, age, income, and geography.1,2

The arrival of artificial intelligence (AI) offers the potential to transform efforts to advance health equity. Yet it also brings its own challenges, each of which could—if not managed effectively—worsen rather than reduce health disparities.3,4

Economist Impact, with support from EMD Serono, is leading a research initiative examining entrenched health inequities in the US and AI’s potential to transform healthcare delivery. The findings highlight both the risks of biased data and flawed algorithms—which could inadvertently deepen disparities if not managed carefully—and the urgent need for coordinated action to ensure AI advances equity through clear priorities, aligned policies, and inclusive design.