AI innovations in cardiology – navigating the path to wider integration
30 Aug 2025
“The ESC is leading the way in exploring the benefits that artificial intelligence (AI) might bring to our daily practice,” says Professor Thomas F. Lüscher, ESC President. “The launch of the first ESC-endorsed generative AI tool – ESC Chat – here in Madrid provides an example of how we can transform AI’s potential into a valuable tool for cardiology practice.”
ESC Chat is a chatbot like no other. Ask ESC Chat a question about an aspect of the ESC Clinical Practice Guidelines and it will respond immediately with a reliable answer. ESC Chat is based on a large language model that has been trained exclusively on selected ESC Clinical Practice Guidelines. Unlike other chatbots, ESC Chat offers clear, guideline-specific responses with direct links to relevant sections of the full-text guidelines. “ESC Chat is not just a time-saving resource,” notes Prof. Lüscher. “It provides busy clinicians with rapid access to recommendations, definitions, diagnostic criteria and treatment pathways, among others, allowing for immediate implementation during clinics and rounds.”
The development of ESC Chat is part of the ESC’s wider strategy to harness the full benefits of AI for research and clinical practice, while ensuring that these advancements are reliable, safe and genuinely beneficial for patients. “The ESC recognises the need to be at the forefront of the trustworthy implementation of AI into cardiology practice. The Digital Cardiology and Artificial Intelligence (DCAI) Committee is dedicated to building an ambitious roadmap1 for responsible implementation of AI for cardiovascular health,” explains the committee’s chair, Professor Folkert W. Asselbergs.
An important priority for the committee is the standardisation of disease definitions and clinical outcomes, according to Prof. Asselbergs: “The creation and widespread adoption of standardised, machine-readable definitions across ESC Guidelines will enhance the quality and reproducibility of AI algorithms used in everyday clinical practice. Our goal is to develop a comprehensive phenotype library featuring data-driven cardiovascular phenotypes that can be seamlessly integrated into electronic health records. This will empower clinicians with improved decision support and promote consistent adherence to guidelines across diverse care settings.”
AI adoption is also on the agenda of the ESC’s Regulatory Affairs Committee, as explained by its chair, Professor Piotr Szymański: “Our current regulatory systems are not adapted for AI technologies, with no global consensus yet on how to define, evaluate or monitor AI tools. As part of our discussions on the EU Artificial Intelligence Act, the ESC is putting forward several policy recommendations, which, among others, include defined standards and minimum dataset specifications, the adoption of a unified European framework for clinical evidence grading, and clear clinical integration pathways to allow AI tools to be embedded into routine care for the benefit of patients.”
A dedicated ESC Digital & AI Summit will take place from 21 to 22 November 2025 in Berlin to connect experts from cardiology, computer science and industry, who will discuss some of the many different innovative ways that AI can redefine patient-centred care. “From AI-driven robotics and predictive analysis to next-generation remote monitoring, the most advanced technologies will be presented. Participants can ask questions to the leading digital pioneers and technologists as we push the boundaries of progress together,” notes Prof. Asselbergs.
An important aspect is empowering healthcare professionals to understand, evaluate and adopt AI. The ESC and its subspecialty communities are developing educational resources and content to support implementation of AI algorithms across the full spectrum of cardiology. The new ESC AI Hub, available on escardio.org, collates numerous information sources, including AI-related webinars and presentations on ESC 365, links to the European Heart Journal - Digital Health and outputs from multi-stakeholder thinktanks, such as ESC Cardiovascular Round Tables. And here at ESC Congress 2025, the Digital Cardiology and AI Track will cover a range of AI topics during symposia, practical seminars and great debates. Be informed and inspired!
References
1. Asselbergs FW & Lüscher TF. Eur Heart J. 2025;46:677–679.
