The Influence of AI-Literate Leadership on AI Adoption in Healthcare Organizations

Abstract

The adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in healthcare has the potential to revolutionize patient care, optimize operations, and advance diagnostic precision. However, successful adoption depends on AI-literate leadership capable of addressing ethical, technical, and organizational challenges. This study examined how healthcare leaders in Saudi Arabia perceived and engaged with the role of AI in healthcare, addressing a critical gap in understanding leadership competencies within the framework of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. Using a qualitative case study design, the research explores leadership perceptions and their influence on AI adoption through semi-structured interviews with 22 healthcare leaders across diverse institutions. Thematic analysis is employed to identify patterns in the data, revealing how leadership demographics, organizational context, and varying levels of AI literacy influenced adoption strategies, perceived barriers, and readiness for digital transformation. The findings contribute theoretically to the understanding of leadership in the context of digital transformation and provide practical strategies to support AI adoption in healthcare organizations. By highlighting the role of AI-literate leadership in navigating challenges such as workforce resistance, ethical concerns, and infrastructural limitations, the study offers insights to guide sustainable and strategic AI adoption within Saudi Arabia’s evolving healthcare system.