Artificial Intelligence in UK Hospital Medicine: From Innovation to Implementation

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has the potential to enhance patient care in the UK's increasingly pressured healthcare system. As AI's applications in healthcare are expanding, healthcare professionals should understand the processes underpinning how AI tools translate from research to clinical application. There are several stages: (1) training and validation on healthcare data, (2) generation of evidence demonstrating performance and safety, (3) regulatory compliance, (4) AI product procurement, (5) implementation in clinical settings, and (6) ongoing monitoring and oversight of deployed AI. Each step presents unique challenges and opportunities that can influence successful integration. Clinicians should understand AI's capabilities and limitations to ensure its appropriate and effective use in practice. This review aims to provide a structured overview of the AI adoption pathway in healthcare, with a view to supporting clinicians in critically appraising its potential and limitations, optimising its integration into clinical practice, and engaging with AI in an informed manner.