AI in cardiology: What clinicians need and what policymakers must decide

Artificial intelligence is rapidly entering cardiology, shaping diagnostics, risk prediction, imaging interpretation, and clinical decision support, yet its integration raises unresolved clinical, ethical, and policy questions. This talk examines how AI systems are currently used across cardiology, where they add value, and where they risk distorting clinical judgment. While algorithmic tools can process large datasets, detect patterns beyond human perception, and support earlier intervention, they do not replace responsibility, contextual reasoning, or accountability. In cardiology, errors carry immediate and irreversible consequences. This makes overreliance on opaque models a clinical and governance risk rather than a technical one. The abstract argues that AI in cardiology should be assessed not only by accuracy metrics but by its impact on patient outcomes, clinician autonomy, trust, and equity of care. It explores the tension between speed and safety, innovation and regulation, prediction and explanation. Particular attention is given to bias in training data, unequal performance across populations, and the shift of liability from human decision-makers to hybrid human–machine systems. For clinicians, the challenge lies in maintaining clinical judgment while using AI as a tool rather than an authority. For policymakers, the challenge lies in regulating systems that evolve faster than existing legal and ethical frameworks. The talk proposes a responsibility-centered approach to AI adoption in cardiology, where transparency, auditability, and human oversight are non-negotiable. AI can support cardiology, but only if its limits are clearly defined and its use aligned with professional ethics and public accountability.

Dr Iris-Panagiota Efthymiou is a Senior Lecturer at the Institute for Study Abroad, in University of Roehampton (Futurelearn) and RCL. She has also taught at the University of Greenwich, the University of East London, and other European Universities. With more than 20 years of experience in entrepreneurship, international affairs, and executive leadership, she combines academic expertise with global policy engagement. She has delivered over 400 keynote speeches across 30 countries on four continents, addressing international institutions, governments, and academic forums. Her policy influence includes work with UK parliamentarians through the All-Party Parliamentary Group on AI, as well as collaborations with diplomats, business leaders, and international organisations. She has served as a college director, founded a public affairs consultancy, and spoken at the United Nations Headquarters in Geneva. She is a Board Member of HAPSc and a Member of the Academic Board of LabHEM at the University of Piraeus, Greece.. Dr Efthymiou has authored 20 books, more than 60 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, and serves as Chief Editor of the Journal of Politics and Ethics in New Technologies and AI. Her research and public work focus on behavioral economics, AI ethics, healthcare, and public policy. She holds a PhD in Behavioral Economics, a Master’s in Health Economics and Management, and a Bachelor’s in Economics. Her work consistently advocates for transparency, inclusivity, and fairness in shaping technology, healthcare, and the future of work.