AI takes center stage at ViVE 2026

It’s not much of a spoiler to say that the ViVE digital health conference is going to be focusing heavily on AI.

It’s one of the safest predictions for the conference, which takes place at the Los Angeles Convention Center Feb. 22-25. Rich Scarfo, president of HLTH, talked with Chief Healthcare Executive® about the focus on AI at this year’s event.

“The area on the floor for AI is about, I would say, twice the size of last year,” he says.

There are a mix of companies on the convention center floor, and the conference will highlight AI, cybersecurity and interoperability.

“We're seeing new companies, new conversations, a great roster of speakers on the theater that we have right there on the floor,” Scarfo says. “And I think it will definitely be one of the big things coming out of the event.”

“You'll see a definite evolution in the way our sessions are crafted around AI, the individuals we have on stage, the new companies that are stepping in, the companies that have been in the industry for some time, and how they're tackling AI,” he says.

Scarfo says the conversations around AI are maturing, as health systems are looking to incorporate AI solutions to address specific challenges they are facing. Healthcare organizations are largely moving past the idea of adopting a new AI solution simply to say they have it in the toolbox.

• Read more: Healthcare CEOs boost AI spending, but want quicker returns

“We've seen this shift coming out of HLTH and going into ViVE, the hype cycle seems to be not the thing people are interested in,” he says. “It is really in what's practical. How is it being used? How is it improving settings? How is it affecting in a positive way, staffing shortages and burnout and all of those things?

“So I think we're just looking at it more from a practical than a hype perspective at the event, but also looking at where AI can take us,” he adds. “So one of the things that's very important for us at ViVE is what's happening now and the business of healthcare. But it's also very important to look at what the future looks like and how the best use of technology is going to get us there.”

• Read more: Using AI to improve patient safety

Chief Healthcare Executive® will be reporting live from ViVE in Los Angeles. Look for more preview stories leading up to the big event.