Could AI fix medical supply chain woes?
Using artificial intelligence (AI) in the medical supply chain is a hot topic. But is AI just wishful thinking, or can it really fix supply chain woes— especially those that emerged during the pandemic?
We are drowning in numbers, and we no longer understand what they mean. Every day, headlines bombard us with figures meant to inform: billions in spending, trillions in debt, percentages signaling growth or decline. But for most of us, these numbers blur together. They register as “large” or “small,” but almost never as real. And that is more than a math problem. It is a civic one.
INFORMS has awarded Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) its 2026 Franz Edelman Award for Achievement in Advanced Analytics, Operations Research and Management Science, for reengineering how global cloud infrastructure is planned and delivered, applying advanced analytics and AI to orchestrate complex fulfillment decisions across its rapidly expanding data center network.
In the rush to adopt artificial intelligence, many employers are now requiring that employees use AI tools. As you’re using AI, be intentional and selective. It’s critical that you know yourself. Research published in Management Science found that AI is most valuable for people who understand their own abilities and limitations. Assess yourself, so you can factor this into your process for incorporating AI into your work.
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Jeff Cohen
Chief Strategy Officer
INFORMS
Catonsville, MD
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443-757-3565
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Using artificial intelligence (AI) in the medical supply chain is a hot topic. But is AI just wishful thinking, or can it really fix supply chain woes— especially those that emerged during the pandemic?
Record heat in Texas this summer strained but didn't break the beleaguered power grid, but experts still question its reliability.
The next person who fills your prescription might not be a person at all. Walgreens recently opened its fourth microfulfillment center since last year. Prescriptions are filled at a warehouse using automation, then brought to the pharmacy for you to pick up.
While autonomous vehicles could one day help prevent things like drunk or impaired drivers, driving is still very unpredictable, pointing to things like blown tires or debris suddenly falling onto the road.
Whether a student is out to make a major jump in class rank or wa already nabbing straight As but could still benefit from a bit more organization, an academic planner is pretty much the key to success.

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