2026 Future of Health Report

Expert(s): Jon Roffman, Maria Whitman, Bill Coyle, Sankalp Sethi, & Vicky Zhou

Healthcare was built for a world that no longer exists. Here’s how we can reshape it.

Healthcare was built for a world that no longer exists. The rise of generative AI has created a new healthcare consumer—one that is better informed, more empowered and more confident in advocating for the options they want to pursue. And this consumer isn’t waiting for healthcare to catch up to them.

The ZS Impact Institute surveyed nearly 10,000 healthcare consumers and providers across the U.S., Germany and China. The findings highlight a single, core truth: AI has radically and permanently shifted how patients interact with healthcare. For healthcare leaders who cling to today’s outdated model, patients will walk away in favor of others—both incumbents and newcomers—who harness AI to offer a better, more seamless care experience.