Fifty-seven percent of healthcare organizations across 43 countries now rank AI as their top IT investment priority, according to KLAS Research’s fourth annual global health IT trends report.
The survey, which drew responses from 182 organizations outside the United States, found that AI investment interest grew 15 percentage points year over year. Electronic health records and digitalization came in second at 44%, followed by IT infrastructure (26%), cybersecurity (25%), and imaging (23%).
Among emerging technologies, ambient AI generated the most excitement, cited by 57% of respondents as the most promising category. Clinical AI (17%), operational AI (16%), and general AI tools (16%) rounded out the list. Microsoft Dragon Copilot held the strongest cross-regional brand awareness among ambient AI vendors, while regional players like Heidi Health, Augnito, and TORTUS gained traction in specific markets.
Cloud adoption also accelerated, with nearly three-quarters of organizations using cloud infrastructure as part of their IT strategy. More than one-third of cloud adopters have migrated all or part of their EHR to the cloud. AI is increasingly shaping cloud strategies, with early-stage cloud adopters frequently citing AI tool deployment and data infrastructure migration as primary drivers.
The report noted that consulting firm engagement declined between 2025 and 2026, with 42% of organizations reporting no plans to hire external firms for upcoming IT initiatives. EHR purchasing activity also hit a multiyear low in 2025, suggesting organizations are prioritizing AI investments over system replacements.
The findings underscore a structural shift: healthcare systems globally are moving AI from experimental status to core infrastructure investment.
