What does it mean to have an AI-first mindset in pharma?
The importance of AI in pharma and life sciences cannot be overstated. Regardless of the aspect of industry you examine, you’ll see how AI is reshaping it for the better. Because of this, it’s time for us to move to the next step in our AI revolution: an AI-first mindset.
In this article, we will explore what an AI-first mindset means and share insights from our experience contributing to the creation of a next-generation AI agent, eVa.
What it means to have an AI-first mindset
In the latest episode of Pharma Talks, hosted by Viseven CEO Nataliya Andreychuk, the discussion with Patrick Markt-Niederreiter, founder and CEO of Zero-Click Healthcare Advisory, centred on the role of AI in pharmaceutical marketing.
The conversation began with a crucial question: what is the real difference between being AI-first and AI-last? For any company considering the adoption of AI, the conversation should begin with one fundamental question: what can AI do well, and how can we put its capabilities to good use within our business context?
In the life sciences sector, AI is still too often treated as an afterthought in content development. Instead of creating a plan and only later trying to “add AI on top”, companies should design their approaches around the unique opportunities AI can unlock and amplify.
Why does pharma need an AI-first approach?
Over the years, HCPs' and patients’ expectations have changed, leading content creators, marketers, and industry leaders to the point where the audience expects not only high-quality content, but also a high degree of personalisation. While this is an understandable desire and a very reasonable one considering the industry, it can still be quite hard to meet those expectations.
One of the questions raised during the discussion was When AI comes into play. With artificial intelligence, even small businesses can scale their content production fast while maintaining their quality standards. Instead of using a “one-size-fits-all” approach, we can finally provide HCPs with reliable information tailored to their interests and specialties. Moreover, healthcare professionals are finally starting to trust AI tools, which leaves us with no reason to avoid using artificial intelligence to create and deliver content.
3 Myths about AI we need to dispel
In the past few years, AI has taken over many discussions across industries. This has resulted in so many myths surrounding AI that many have started to picture it as something it is definitely not. Let’s debunk some of the most popular myths that are still circling in pharma and life sciences:
“It’s enough to just feed AI data, and it will do the rest”
If you give your AI poor-quality data, it will not magically make it better. No matter what AI system you’re using, it should be built with carefully curated data that’s structured in a way that can be “digestible”.
“AI will replace humans”
The worry that artificial intelligence will replace us is understandable. However, AI is an enabler, accelerator, and assistant; it’s never our competition. Some jobs will inevitably be automated, but new roles will emerge to meet the demands created by innovation. It’s never going to be AI vs human. It will always be AI and human.
“AI cannot be creative”
AI cannot really be creative on its own, as it does not produce original results, but a combination of existing ideas. However, when paired with human imagination, something genuinely novel can emerge. Even if its outputs aren’t entirely unique on their own, they can still spark creativity in others.
The future: How we can evolve from an AI-last approach to an AI-first culture
Going AI-first doesn’t happen overnight. The discussion highlighted the need to take the right steps to ensure organisations not only adopt AI, but also foster an AI-first work culture. Some key points include:
Don’t go all-in from the start
Start by adding one tool or testing one new feature. Don’t try to solve all problems right away. Instead, create a step-by-step strategy while ensuring that teams are aligned on the value and purpose of AI.
Rethink your KPIs
When talking about AI and efficiency, many organisations tend to focus too much on output-driven metrics. Instead of measuring “how much was produced”, it’s time to rethink KPIs and focus on whether content actually delivers value and drives insights to action.
Foster the culture of innovation
AI is still evolving, and tomorrow’s use cases might look different from today’s. Encourage teams to experiment and explore different opportunities the technology has to offer.
Redesign workflows with automation in mind
Simply purchasing AI tools doesn’t mean they’ve been meaningfully integrated into workflows. What’s truly needed is a structure where AI takes over time-consuming tasks, while humans focus on strategic and creative work.
Embrace the potential of AI for pharma and life sciences
AI is not just supporting life sciences – it’s transforming the field. The goal is to ensure that AI works for you, not vice versa. Don’t build unnecessary workflows around it; don’t force employees to use AI where it adds no value. Instead, identify a real problem, area, or process where AI can genuinely make a difference.
Listen to the podcast on the Viseven’s Youtube channel, where Nataliya Andreychuk goes into detail about the transformative power of AI and its impact on pharma and life sciences.
About Viseven
Viseven is a global MarTech company specializing in digital content solutions for the Life Sciences and Pharma industries. With over 15 years of expertise, Viseven empowers pharmaceutical companies and their production agencies with AI-driven content management and automation solutions.
Our flagship eWizard Platform streamlines content planning, creation, distribution, and management—enhancing efficiency, reducing operational costs, and accelerating brand time-to-market. Designed for omnichannel and multichannel engagement, eWizard optimizes campaign management, data collection, and performance analysis, ensuring continuous message improvement for Brand Managers and Content Operations teams.
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