The trend: Half of US healthcare organizations have implemented genAI solutions, according to a McKinsey survey from Q4 2025. This is the first time adoption has reached 50% since the firm began tracking it in 2023. The survey spans provider organizations, health insurers, and healthcare services and technology companies.

Unpacking the trend: Among the half of organizations that haven’t implemented genAI, all plan to adopt it in the future.

• 37% of non-AI implementers are pursuing genAI proofs-of-concept but haven’t scaled them.
• 8% expect to pursue proof of concept in the next 12 months.
• 5% said they’re waiting to see others’ outcomes first.

GenAI implementation levels vary by entity type.

• 64% of healthcare services and tech firms have implemented it.
• 52% of clinical care organizations have.
• Payers (34%) lag behind.

Why it matters: Many healthcare organizations are zeroing in on administrative efficiency as the top priority—87% said it is the area where genAI could have the greatest impact.

GenAI is no longer just for administration, though—54% of healthcare organizations now use it to enhance clinical productivity. This is the most widely implemented use case across segments. McKinsey doesn’t break down specific clinical productivity activities, but likely areas include tasks assisting in patient care, such as medical literature searches, AI scribing, and diagnostic or treatment support.

Implications for healthcare AI companies: While some organizations remain in the pilot phase, those deploying the technology expect returns of 2X to 4X, per McKinsey. Key ROI metrics for administrative use cases may include significant labor cost reductions, enhanced staff productivity, and streamlined revenue cycle management.

ROI may be harder to quantify on the clinical side, making initial physician buy-in and user adoption even more critical. As noted by clinicians in a recent AMA survey, this requires clear training materials, strong clinical evidence (e.g., diagnostic and note accuracy, medical image interpretation), and case studies showing how other healthcare organizations have benefited.

This content is part of EMARKETER’s subscription Briefings, where we pair daily updates with data and analysis from forecasts and research reports. Our Briefings prepare you to start your day informed, to provide critical insights in an important meeting, and to understand the context of what’s happening in your industry. Not a subscriber? Click here to get a demo of our full platform and coverage.