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In the AI Heroes podcast, Alberto Retana discusses how artificial intelligence is revolutionizing healthcare, enhancing diagnoses, automating processes, and transforming patient ca
Introduction
In a recent episode of the AI Heroes podcast, Laura Velásquez, co-founder of Arcángel AI, conversed with Alberto Retana, a leader in the pharmaceutical industry, about the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on healthcare. During the discussion, Retana explored how these technologies are transforming our understanding of diagnosis, data management, and patient care, highlighting both advancements and challenges faced by organizations.
"There are conditions where a diagnosis can take years. AI can help reduce that time to just weeks," noted Retana. This remark illustrates one of the biggest impacts of AI on healthcare: its ability to drastically cut down the time required to identify diseases. Not only does this improve diagnostic accuracy, but it also opens the door for earlier, more effective interventions.
One example highlighted in the conversation was how AI can analyze large volumes of data in real-time, allowing doctors to make better-informed decisions. "It’s not the same to start treatment five years later than it is to do so within a few weeks," Retana added, underscoring the positive impact that early diagnosis has on the progression of a disease.
In her conversation with Velásquez, Retana emphasized that AI is a key tool for freeing up professionals from operational tasks, allowing them to focus on more strategic work. "If I spend less time on operational execution, I can concentrate on innovating," he explained.
For example, Retana shared how AI is already being used to optimize processes in pharmaceuticals, such as data analysis and treatment monitoring. This not only speeds up development cycles but also helps organizations comply with strict regulations, a constant challenge in the industry.
He also highlighted the importance of pairing implementation with tools that monitor and adjust projects in real-time. "If I have an AI tool throughout the process, it’s much easier to identify areas for immediate improvement," he commented.
"One approach we've adopted is what we call the triple bottom line: being socially responsible, respecting the environment, and ensuring financial viability," Retana shared when describing how Novo Nordisk uses AI to balance sustainability and innovation.
In the episode, Retana highlighted initiatives like Circular Zero, which aims to reduce CO2 emissions by optimizing operational and production processes. AI plays a crucial role in precisely measuring and analyzing these impacts, enabling companies to set and meet sustainable goals. "It’s not the same to do manual reporting as it is to have an automated scan that gives me a clear overview," he affirmed.
While the benefits of AI are undeniable, Retana made it clear that its adoption is not without obstacles. Among the key challenges he mentioned were:
"The power is no longer in having information, but in knowing how to interpret it," Retana stated, highlighting how AI is transforming the way organizations work with data. In a world flooded with information, the ability to synthesize and analyze data accurately is crucial for making quick, effective decisions.
In this sense, AI not only accelerates analysis but also identifies patterns and opportunities that would be difficult to detect manually. "I can save months of analysis and make decisions that impact sooner than expected," he added.
Throughout the episode, Retana made it clear that AI is not just an operational tool, but also an opportunity for professional learning and growth. "This reminds us that knowledge and learning are infinite. Technology presents this reality to us every day," he reflected.
However, he emphasized that the success of AI depends on careful and ethical implementation. "Not everything is AI, and not everything should be traditional. We must find a balance and understand that these tools should be used for the benefit of the patient," he concluded.
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