Regulatory whiplash: Why AI in healthcare still lives in a grey zone

AI in healthcare is no longer experimental, but the rules governing it often feel unfinished, fragmented, and inconsistently applied. It is being adopted across healthcare faster than the regulatory frameworks designed to govern it. Guidance comes from multiple bodies, regulators, national health systems, and professional leaders, but those signals are not always aligned. The result is uncertainty for startups, providers, and clinicians about what is permitted, what is required, and what sits in a grey area. How clear is today’s regulatory framework for AI in healthcare and why does confusion persist despite existing guidance? How does regulatory ambiguity affect innovation, procurement decisions, clinician behaviour, and patient safety in practice?