Google survey shows GenAI improves healthcare technology implementation

The thought of having to implement new healthcare technology can bring a chorus of groans from seasoned members of any company’s operational and support teams. This type of project has a well-earned reputation for being a lengthy, complex affair with payoffs barely visible on the horizon.

Rather than despair, that chorus is now ready to sing the praises of generative AI. Advancements in gen AI have upended the conventional wisdom about healthcare technology implementation, according to Google Cloud’s 2025 ROI of Generative AI report.

Fast ROI and revenue benefits for healthcare implementations

The survey, which examined 2,500 senior leaders from global enterprises, including healthcare and life sciences organizations, found that 74% of companies using gen AI see a return on investment within the first year. with 86% of those reporting revenue increases noting gains of 6% or more.

For healthcare specifically, the impact is even more targeted. Of the healthcare and life sciences organizations surveyed, 69% report that gen AI solutions have added meaningful value to their user experience—a critical metric in an industry increasingly focused on patient satisfaction and engagement.

Healthcare organizations are also benefiting from accelerated development cycles. According to the survey, 84% of healthcare institutions can move a gen AI use case from idea to production in less than six months, with nearly half (47%) accomplishing this in just 3–6 months. This rapid time-to-value means tangible improvements can be realized much sooner than with traditional healthcare IT projects.

Patient experience and clinical decision support

Among healthcare and life sciences companies reporting improved user experience, 82% have seen improvements of 6% or more with gen AI implementation. While the global average shows customer experience as the third-highest priority for future AI investments (52% of organizations), healthcare and life sciences organizations rank it as their top priority. This reflects the industry’s patient-centered transformation efforts.

Additionally, strategic decision-making ranks higher in healthcare than other industries. While it’s a mid-tier priority globally (48% overall), healthcare and life sciences organizations list it as their third-highest priority for gen AI applications—likely reflecting the technology’s potential to support complex clinical decisions.

Regarding security posture, 56% of global organizations report improvements, and healthcare institutions show similar benefits, with 82% noting better threat identification and 71% seeing faster resolution times. These improvements are particularly crucial in healthcare, where protecting sensitive patient data is a regulatory requirement and ethical obligation.

Fifty-three percent of all organizations cite increased operational efficiency as their top priority for gen AI over the next 2-3 years, and healthcare is embracing this trend. From automating documentation to optimizing scheduling, these improvements are helping address the administrative burden that consumes so much clinical time.

Healthcare GenAI leaders

The research identified a distinct group of “Gen AI Leaders,” organizations with four or more use cases in production that have invested more than 15% of their total operating expenses in gen AI. The high-performing healthcare institutions that are a part of this group share several key traits:

1. A clear, patient-centered vision for gen AI implementation
2. Substantial financial investment in gen AI technologies (86% of Gen AI Leaders plan to allocate at least half of their AI future budget to gen AI, versus 67% of other organizations)
3. Strong alignment between technical objectives and clinical outcomes (76% of Gen AI Leaders report strong alignment between technology goals and business needs, 9% higher than other organizations)
4. Dedicated AI teams with cross-functional expertise (54% of Gen AI Leaders have dedicated gen AI teams, 16% higher than other organizations)
5. Implementation across multiple care pathways and operational functions (69% of Gen AI Leaders use gen AI for at least half of their core functions, 36% higher than other organizations)

Clinical and executive alignment makes the difference

Executive support proves crucial for successful gen AI implementation in healthcare. The survey found that 9 in 10 organizations with comprehensive C-level sponsorship report revenue increases of 6% or more.

What’s unique in healthcare is the importance of clinical leadership engagement alongside traditional executive roles. Organizations with both technical and clinical leadership alignment are most likely to see faster adoption and better results.

Looking ahead

Gen AI in healthcare has progressed beyond experimental status to become a strategic investment with measurable results. The ROI data from Google’s research makes a compelling case that healthcare organizations should be moving from cautious observation to active implementation.

For healthcare leaders still on the fence, the message from this research is clear—your competitors are already seeing real benefits from gen AI, with faster returns than typically expected in healthcare technology. The question isn’t whether to invest in gen AI, but how quickly you can catch up to those already reaping the rewards.