Pediatricians, General

However, most core pediatric tasks still rely on human doctors. A review of many health apps found almost no AI actually automating a doctor’s work in children’s exams ^[2]. Computers don’t have empathy – they can’t comfort a frightened child or build trust with parents ^[2].

In fact, experts say it’s important to leave the caring parts to people and use AI only as a helper ^{[2] [2]}. Right now, if a doctor is deciding whether to send a kid to a specialist or how to change a treatment plan, that still needs real-world judgment. AI might show patterns or make suggestions, but the pediatrician makes the call.

On the other hand, doctors and health systems face barriers. AI technology can be expensive to install and maintain, requiring new computers and training. A survey found that while many healthcare managers plan to use AI, most also admit their staff need more training to use it ^[4].

Older hospital software and strict privacy rules can slow things down too. For example, one report notes high costs and data compatibility as big challenges for AI in healthcare ^[3].

Finally, there are ethical and trust issues. Medicine is highly regulated, and people expect a doctor (not just a machine) to explain decisions. Especially with children’s data, privacy and fairness matter a lot.

Parents still trust a caring pediatrician more than a cold algorithm ^[2]. Overall, experts agree AI will most likely stay a tool to assist pediatricians, not replace them ^{[3] [2]}. The human touch – listening, reassuring, and making judgment calls – remains essential in child healthcare.