Health leaders, researchers, and government officials came together in Geneva earlier this month to explore how artificial intelligence is already transforming health care—and what gaps need to be addressed before it goes mainstream. During a high-level session of the AI for Good Global Summit, speakers from the World Health Organization (WHO), International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) raised key questions about integrating AI into both modern clinical settings and traditional medicine.
Held from July 8 to 11, the summit served as the UN’s main platform for exploring AI’s role in solving real-world challenges, with this year’s program zeroing in on inequality in health, disaster response, and sustainable development. Organized by ITU and co-hosted by the Swiss government, the event featured updates from the Global Initiative on AI for Health (GI-AI4H), a joint effort led by WHO, ITU, and WIPO since 2023.
Dr. Alain Labrique of WHO called AI “a turning point” in clinical care and public health, but noted it must be handled with care. In his remarks, he said WHO is focusing on whether countries have the systems to manage AI, the policies to assess its safety and quality, and the tools to adapt it to local health settings. Without these pieces in place, he warned, technology could do more harm than good.
A new technical brief presented at the session takes a close look at how AI is being used in traditional medicine and where it could go next. Dr. Shyama Kuruvilla of WHO described the report as a step toward bringing long-standing knowledge into future health systems. But she also urged caution, saying AI should support—not replace—local traditions and must be tested carefully in different cultural and medical contexts.
Workshops throughout the summit dug into the details. Participants shared examples of where AI is being used to map medicinal plants, support diagnosis, or improve data collection. But they also pointed to ongoing concerns—especially when it comes to evidence, privacy, and real-world outcomes. Across the four-day event, one message stood out: AI offers new tools, but trust, access, and thoughtful design will determine whether it truly improves health for everyone.
