S03 EP 06: Designing safe AI: the role of standards

AI is changing healthcare fast, but behind the headlines, it’s standards like FHIR that ensure data is safe, consistent, and ready for real-world use. In this episode, they explore how robust digital health standards provide the foundation for responsible AI adoption, from clinical care to patient empowerment, while also highlighting current limits and risks.

Guests:

Josh Mandell & Michael Lawley

Key points covered:

• Why structured data matters - Reliable, structured data, enabled by FHIR, is essential for scaling AI safely and efficiently. While AI can process unstructured data, standards reduce ambiguity and errors.
• Automation, scale, and patient access - Highlighting how AI and standards can reduce reliance on manual work in healthcare, automate routine tasks, and increasingly support patient engagement with their own data.
• Governance, risk, and Sparked’s role - They discussed potential risks with rapid AI adoption, the importance of community standards, and the unique position of Sparked to bring stakeholders together and shape a safe and equitable digital health future.

This episode offers a nuanced, practical look at why standards matter in the AI era, the importance of shared context, and the role of community-led governance in shaping a safe, equitable digital health future.