AI is not a product, it's infrastructure

This is the first essay sharing my thoughts about the transformation needed around AI, and is at ground level, establishing the foundational principles and clarifying why healthcare must treat AI as infrastructure rather than as departmental software. The second essay I'm developing will dive more deeply into the how-to, how we transition from operational implementation to strategic transformation, addressing the ecosystem approach that extends beyond individual organizations. That second essay (probably in a series of 3-4) will also explore a critical shift in perspective: how we ourselves become an integral part of this infrastructure, rather than merely being passive users of it. But first, let's take a clear-eyed look at what is happening now, at the current state of AI implementation in healthcare, why well-intentioned efforts are struggling, and what the actual barriers and opportunities are.