Beyond the algorithm: the importance of medical humanities in the age of AI

The advent of artificial intelligence (AI) is radically transforming healthcare by introducing innovative tools that enhance diagnosis, personalized therapies, and medical training. However, this technological progress raises ethical and social questions, particularly regarding the centrality of human relationships in care. Medical Humanities (MH), a field combining the humanities and medicine, provide a critical framework to balance technological innovation and empathy. Through interdisciplinary approaches, MH fosters healthcare education that integrates technical expertise with humanistic sensitivity, preventing the dehumanization of care. In this context, narrative medicine emerges as a vital tool to emphasize patients’ individual stories, with AI amplifying its impact through advanced data analysis. This article offers a conceptual analysis examines the dialogue between AI and MH, highlighting the challenges and opportunities of this synergy. It also discusses strategies to mitigate algorithmic biases and ensure an ethical and inclusive approach, envisioning a future where technology and humanity coexist harmoniously in medical practice. This integration is key to promoting patient-centered care while preserving the core values of therapeutic relationships.