Tel Aviv Medical School Head Predicts AI Will Replace Average Doctors Within a Decade
Professor Ido Wolf, concluding four years as dean of the Sackler Faculty of Medicine at Tel Aviv University, asserts that artificial intelligence (AI) will replace average doctors within ten years. He explains that doctors who are not innovative or deeply knowledgeable will become obsolete as AI tools advance. Wolf highlights that the future of medicine will require physicians to be highly skilled and innovative to add value beyond AI capabilities.
During his tenure, Wolf navigated significant challenges including the international accreditation process, which was successfully completed in December 2025, ensuring Israeli medical graduates can continue to take U.S. licensing exams and pursue residencies abroad. The faculty also expanded student enrollment to meet the Ministry of Health’s demands following the "Stable Reform," which regulated Israeli students studying medicine overseas. The war starting on October 7, 2023, further complicated matters, with many students called to reserve duty and adjustments made to admissions, including accepting reservists without psychometric exams.
Wolf emphasizes the importance of diversity in medical education, advocating for increased inclusion of Ethiopian Israelis, peripheral region students, and ultra-Orthodox Jews, noting that psychometric tests do not fairly assess these groups. He criticizes recent legislative moves toward gender-segregated medical studies as impractical and harmful.
Regarding AI integration, Wolf acknowledges both its inevitability and potential benefits, such as AI tools providing medical recommendations with accuracy comparable or superior to tired doctors during night shifts. He stresses the need for safeguards and training to ensure AI is used effectively without undermining the development of clinical intuition and experience.
Wolf also expresses concern about the emigration of top Israeli doctors amid political instability and security challenges, warning that losing highly skilled physicians could weaken the healthcare system. He calls for competitive incentives to retain medical talent.
Finally, Wolf addresses the threat of academic and medical boycotts against Israel following the October 7 war, warning that such actions could isolate Israeli medicine internationally, harming research, clinical trials, and patient care. He urges the government to improve Israel’s global image and transparency, particularly regarding the medical treatment of detainees like Dr. Hossam Abu Safiya. As he prepares to hand over the deanship, Wolf stresses the need to elevate the faculty to be the best in Israel and to cultivate future medical leadership.
