AI – no matter what industry one works in, it’s an acronym that’s heard a lot nowadays. The use of artificial intelligence has surged in recent years, increasing from roughly half of organizations using it in 2023 to more than 70% in 2024, according to global management consulting firm McKinsey & Company.
In healthcare alone, physician adoption nearly doubled from 38% in 2023 to 66% in 2024, according to the American Medical Association, and most United States hospitals now report using AI tools in at least some capacity. However, a 2025 study from the University of Minnesota found that rural hospitals lag in AI use.
“We studied the data set to focus more extensively on the rural side,” said Brian Whitacre, professor and Jean & Patsy Neustadt chair in the Oklahoma State University Department of Agricultural Economics, whose research area focuses on strengthening the economy in rural Oklahoma.
