[AI SPRINT] If Surgeons Need to Adapt to AI, What About You?

“I guess I’m applying to McDonald’s now,” joked Dr. Fawzi Katranji in a TikTok video that went viral last week. His stunned reaction to an AI tool diagnosing conditions from CT scans—faster and more accurately than he could—wasn’t just unsettling for him; it echoed what many of us are feeling. Suddenly, even the most skilled professionals are facing urgent new questions: Are we better off if AI improves patient outcomes, even if it puts jobs at risk? What does it mean for all of us when surgeons themselves must adapt to AI to stay relevant?

Let’s dive into five recent AI breakthroughs in healthcare and explore how they’re forcing us to balance progress with purpose—and what we can learn from this moment.

AI’s Healthcare Breakthroughs—Just in the Last Few Weeks

The pace of change is staggering across all industries. Here are five recent announcements where AI is already reshaping what’s possible in healthcare:

Smarter Medical Coding: On May 27, Ambience Healthcare announced an AI that drafts clinical notes in real time during doctor-patient visits, boosting ICD-10 coding accuracy by 27% over physicians. Fewer billing errors and more time for patient care—a clear example of AI streamlining administrative tasks, not replacing people.

AI-Powered Robots: On May 26, Diligent Robotics’ announced they had rolled out their Moxi robot at 30 US hospitals, handling errands like supply runs and medication delivery. With up to 100,000 healthcare vacancies looming, robots now free up to 40% of nurses’ time—alleviating staff shortages, not replacing care.

Preventing Medication Errors: On May 25, UW Medicine unveiled AI-powered glasses that spots medication errors with an astonishing 99.6% accuracy, tackling a problem that affects 1 in 20 patients.

New Medical Models from Google: On May 20, Google launched MedGemma, an open-source AI suite built on Gemma 3, designed to analyze medical images and text. With a 4B model for tasks like reading X-rays and a 27B model for clinical reasoning, it will accelerate developing AI-enabled tools for diagnostics and patient care.

Predicting ICU Outcomes: A new AI model, DiffSmol, was announced by Ohio State University on May 12, which creates new drug molecules with a 61% success rate, far better than older methods at 12%. This should continue increasing the pace of drug discovery.

The Future Belongs to Adaptors

With this pace of change, Dr. Katranji’s McDonald’s quip is more than a joke—it’s a wake-up call. No profession is immune to AI’s reach. From surgeons to coders, the best-educated among us now share the stage with algorithms. In this new era, those who adapt and master AI will win—not those who resist it.

Ambience’s real-time coding tool lets doctors offload routine paperwork and focus on what matters most: patient care. Med-Gemini’s diagnostic prowess suggests clinicians who embrace AI can achieve almost superhuman accuracy. The lesson? Professionals who learn to wield AI as a tool—rather than fear it as a rival—will shape the future. And it’s not just healthcare. If surgeons need to adapt, so do lawyers, engineers, and teachers. The question isn’t whether AI will change your job—it’s whether you’ll harness it to stay ahead.

AI SPRINT: RALLY Employees Is Your Guide

The third step of my AI SPRINT Framework—RALLY employees to use AI daily—is designed to build momentum and foster a sense of safety as your company adopts AI.

For Leaders: Don’t Let Hopelessness Take Hold—Rally Your Experts

When a highly qualified expert like Dr. Katranji jokes about leaving medicine for McDonald’s after seeing an AI outperform him, it’s not just a punchline—it’s a warning sign. If your best people feel hopeless or blindsided by AI, that’s not a technology problem; it’s a leadership failure.

In times of rapid change, leaders must communicate, create safety, and provide structure for employees to adapt. This is what the AI SPRINT RALLY step is all about:

• Communicate openly and often: Don’t let rumors and anxiety fill the silence. Explain how AI will impact roles, share the vision for the future, and acknowledge both opportunities and fears.

• Create psychological safety: Make it safe to ask questions, express uncertainty, or even make mistakes as teams learn. Show vulnerability yourself, and celebrate those who experiment.

• Provide structure and support: Give teams the tools, training, and frameworks they need to integrate AI into their workflows—then empower them to share what works across the organization.

If your most talented people feel adrift or expendable, the company risks losing not just expertise, but the trust and momentum needed to succeed with AI. The organizations that win will be those where every employee feels equipped and empowered to use AI daily—not left wondering where they fit in.

For Individuals: Be the AI Power User in Your Role

You don’t need to be an AI engineer to thrive in the age of AI—you just need to be curious and proactive.

• Look for new ways to apply AI in your daily tasks, whether it’s drafting notes, double-checking work, or surfacing insights.

• Experiment, share, and learn—the best opportunities often go to those who spot new tools early and help others use them.

• Remember: You won’t lose your job to an AI. You’ll lose it to someone who uses AI better than you.

Try this, right now: Use my AI Automation Finder GPT to look for ways to use AI in your role. Just give it your role, industry, and responsibilities, and it will walk you through the rest!

Bonus Prompt: Try this the next time you need to learn a new concept:

Explain [complex topic, e.g., quantum computing] in simple terms, as if I’m 12 years old. Use one vivid analogy, break it into three key takeaways, and include a surprising real-world application.

What’s Next?

AI is transforming every field—bringing both new opportunities and new challenges. The future is already here, and it’s up to all of us to adapt.

Set a simple goal: Each week, find one small way to use AI in your work—and encourage a colleague to do the same. Step by step, we’ll learn to work better with technology and with each other.

About Trent: Trent Gillespie is an AI Keynote Speaker, CEO of Stellis AI, former Amazon leader, and advisor on building AI-Native, AI-Enabled businesses. Book Trent to speak to your group or book a call to discuss using AI within your business.

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