The AI Dilemma: Balancing Technology in Healthcare and Education

Artificial intelligence (AI) is changing the way we live, but its rapid growth is creating new challenges in two very important areas: healthcare and education. From the way patients get approval for medicine to how students complete their university assignments, the use of AI is causing both excitement and deep concern. As these technologies become more common, professionals in both sectors are trying to decide how to use them safely and fairly.

In the world of healthcare, patients often face a difficult process called "prior authorization." This is a system where an insurance company must approve a medical treatment or medicine before they agree to pay for it. While this process is meant to stop unnecessary spending, it often causes long delays. According to Ars Technica, many doctors are worried that these delays cause patients to give up on treatments they actually need. Some experts believe AI could help by quickly checking information and speeding up the approval process for simple cases.

However, there is significant fear that AI might do more harm than good. A 2025 survey by the American Medical Association found that 61 percent of doctors are worried that AI will make it easier for insurance companies to deny necessary medical care. Camm Epstein, a health policy analyst, noted that AI should be used to make it easier to approve appropriate care, not to make it easier to deny it. Currently, the administration of President Donald Trump is testing a program in six states that uses AI to reduce unnecessary spending, but it is still unclear if this will truly fix the system or just make it more difficult for patients.

At the same time, universities are facing their own AI crisis. As generative AI tools become easier to use, many students are using them to complete their schoolwork. The 2025 Australian Digital Inclusion Index reported that nearly 79 percent of students are now using these tools. This has led many institutions, such as the Australian National University (ANU), to scramble to protect the value of their degrees. The main concern is that if students use AI to cheat, they are not actually learning the material they are being taught.

Some staff members at ANU have criticized the university’s response, calling it "panicked" and "hysterical." One academic argued that the university is making changes too quickly without enough training or support for teachers. There is also a fear that these new rules might make it harder for students with disabilities or those with extra responsibilities at home to succeed. Despite these complaints, some professors believe that action is necessary. Will Bateman, a law professor at ANU, warned that if universities do not protect the quality of their education, they risk losing their intellectual strength to companies in other countries.

To solve this, some universities are moving toward "secure" assessments. This means using methods that prevent AI cheating, such as returning to traditional exams held in person. However, this approach has also faced criticism. For example, the University of Queensland was criticized for scheduling oral exams at night and on weekends to ensure they were secure. Kris Ryan, the deputy vice-chancellor of education at the university, explained that while they began planning for these changes in 2023, implementing them across a large institution takes time.

Ultimately, the debate in both healthcare and education comes down to trust and transparency. In medicine, the American Medical Association is calling for insurance companies to be more open about how their AI algorithms—the sets of rules or instructions used by computers to solve problems—make decisions. In education, the goal is to find a way to use technology that supports learning rather than replacing it. Whether it is a patient waiting for medicine or a student writing an essay, the goal is to ensure that AI serves the people, rather than creating new barriers to success. As these systems continue to evolve, the challenge for leaders will be to find a balance that respects both human needs and technological progress.