In an era of greater autonomy after years of experimenting with passive AI, Google Cloud Global Director of Healthcare Aashima Gupta says it’s no longer a question of adoption – it’s a question of implementation.
In an exclusive interview at Google Cloud Next 2026, Gupta outlined how AI has quickly embedded itself in clinical workflows – and not by top-down pressure. Instead, frontline demand has had a major impact on how AI systems are delivered across the industry, with tools designed to reduce worker fatigue at the root.
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Google’s vision for artificial intelligence in healthcare is almost entirely administrative
But the real transformation is yet to come, and it lies in what Gupta describes as healthcare’s “agentic moment.” Instead of simply assisting humans, AI agents are beginning to orchestrate entire workflows, reason across systems, adapt to context, and execute multi-step processes.
“These are agents—they don’t get tired,” she added, highlighting the power of autonomy in handling repetitive, administrative tasks while clinicians focus on high-value, person-centered care.
Agentic is the name of the game in an industry still dominated by legacy systems and physical paper records. Gupta claims that modern artificial intelligence agents can now stitch together systems such as electronic medical records, imaging systems, laboratories and insurance platforms.
But while workers increasingly accept AI assistance after experimenting with consumer products in their own time, Google Cloud knows the real battle for widespread adoption is trust, not capability.
Data residency, audibility and role-based access controls are all key to making AI succeed in healthcare – one of the most regulated industries, but also one of the industries likely to benefit the most from properly implemented AI.
Gemini doesn’t want your patient records, but Google wants to help you connect to them for your surgery
Looking ahead, Gupta envisions a future where every patient has access to an AI assistant through their own healthcare provider, hospital or clinic. Gemini’s power isn’t enough, she explained, noting that Google doesn’t have access to your personal records (nor does it want to).
But for hyper-personalized health recommendations that can prevent clinic visits altogether, custom-built AI chatbots are very much the goal.
And as for the smaller healthcare providers, Gupta’s message is clear: “Be in the arena.” Start experimenting now with early pilots around high-frequency, low-risk workflows to gain internal expertise and build from there.
Ultimately, Gupta sees AI as a capability engine for clinicians and not a replacement for workers in an industry defined by human interaction.
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