Hot topics from HIMSS26: AI, interoperability and patient trust gaps

HIMSS26’s opening day highlighted Mass General Brigham’s large-scale AI deployment, showcasing real-world clinical applications of AI-driven diagnostics and workflow automation in major healthcare systems. The Office of the National Coordinator (ONC) and ASTP unveiled progress on a unified health data ecosystem, emphasizing interoperability standards to bridge fragmented electronic health records across providers. Patient trust emerged as a critical concern, with attendees debating how ambient AI—like voice-enabled clinical assistants—collects, stores, and secures sensitive health data without explicit consent. Industry leaders stressed the urgency of transparent AI governance frameworks to address privacy risks, as surveys revealed growing skepticism among patients about unregulated AI use in care settings. Strategic discussions focused on balancing innovation with compliance, as regulators and providers sought alignment on AI ethics, data-sharing policies, and scalable interoperability solutions.