According to the chapter, what is the role of AI in healthcare and how does IoT contribute to shifting healthcare from reactive to preventative?

According to the chapter, AI’s role in healthcare centers on predictive analytics, decision support systems, and automation. IoT contributes to shifting healthcare from reactive to preventative by enabling continuous patient monitoring, early detection of health problems, personalized proactive care, and proactive resource management.

The chapter explains that AI is used in healthcare for predictive analytics, decision support, and automation. Specific uses include analyzing imaging data for accurate cancer diagnosis, identifying genetic mutations in tumors to guide targeted therapy, predicting heart attacks through ECG and other IoT-enabled devices, identifying behavioral patterns for early mental health intervention, assisting in preoperative surgical planning, and analyzing glucose trends to optimize insulin delivery. IoT supports the shift from reactive to preventative healthcare by continuously monitoring patient health so that problems are detected before symptoms become severe. Personalized healthcare made possible through IoT gives patients access to personalized insights and proactive care, moving healthcare from a reactive to a preventive model and reducing the burden on healthcare systems. IoT also enables early detection, remote diagnostics, and proactive resource management, all of which support prevention and timely intervention rather than waiting for illness to progress.