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Jae Won Joh: Bill Gates Predicts AI Will Replace Doctors – But Who Takes on the Liability?

Jae Won Joh/LinkedIn

Mar 30, 2025, 15:00

Jae Won Joh: Bill Gates Predicts AI Will Replace Doctors – But Who Takes on the Liability?

Jae Won Joh, Co-Director of Advanced Development at The Permanente Medical Group, posted on LinkedIn:

“Bill Gates just predicted AI will replace doctors within a decade…mere days before National Doctors’ Day. How thoughtful.

I’ve got just one question: who’s taking on the liability?

I’ve diligenced over 100 healthcare AI companies; I could count on one hand—with fingers to spare—those willing to assume ANY medicolegal responsibility. The replies are uniform:

“Our solution ensures integrity by having a human in the loop.”

Buddy, I speak corporate. That’s “the doctor still carries all the risk.”

Can we acknowledge it’s a little inconsistent for your marketing team to claim your AI is “equal to” or “better than” trained clinicians while your legal team drafts contracts ensuring all medicolegal burden falls on…those same clinicians?

For most physicians already battling burnout, the math is clear: more “efficiency” means seeing more patients; more patients means expanded liability; expanded liability means increased risk to livelihood and license.

And let’s be honest—healthcare organizations where physicians feel safe taking on that increased risk? Vanishingly few in number.

You won’t find that sobering reality in glossy investor decks.

I’m not against innovation at all—I’m on an innovation team! But when billions are pouring into healthcare AI with negligible allocation for inevitable legal challenges, healthcare isn’t being “disrupted”, risk is being pushed onto the very professionals being “supported”

The scales need to tip in the opposite direction. Physicians carry enough anxiety about their careers without wondering when their next AI-assisted lawsuit will arrive.

If you’re serious about transforming healthcare with AI, strategize about how you’ll help front line clinicians manage the risks you present. It shows you’re willing to put your money where your mouth is, and you’ll find a more receptive audience when you’re proactive.

Thoughts? Am I off base? Let’s discuss!”

Jae Won Joh