AI’s Leap from Hype to Healthcare Standard Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer just an emerging concept—it’s now a regulated, practical tool in healthcare. In 2025, regulatory bodies and professional organizations are setting clear expectations for AI’s role in clinical practice. These changes are especially relevant for speech-language pathologists (SLPs), occupational therapists (OTs), physical therapists (PTs), psychologists, and psychomotor therapists, many of whom are already using AI-powered tools in therapy. Two recent events—the FDA’s launch of Elsa, its first agency-wide AI tool, and the AMA’s call for “explainable AI”—are now shaping how therapists approach AI in daily practice. Elsa: The FDA’s New AI Tool The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has launched Elsa, a generative AI tool designed to modernize internal workflows. Built on a large language model and deployed within a secure GovCloud environment, Elsa helps FDA staff read, write, summarize, and analyze data-heavy documents. Elsa does not train on industry-submitted data, protecting proprietary and sensitive information (FDA, 2025a). Elsa’s functions include summarizing adverse event reports, accelerating clinical protocol reviews, automating label comparisons, generating code for internal databases, and identifying priority inspection targets. Tasks that once took days can now be completed in minutes, freeing staff for higher-level evaluations (FDA, 2025b). Elsa’s successful, ahead-of-schedule rollout is a real-world example of how AI can handle administrative complexity while maintaining high standards of security and reliability (Hogan Lovells, 2025). The AMA and Explainable AI Alongside Elsa’s debut, the American Medical Association (AMA) has introduced new guidance emphasizing “explainable AI.” This means AI systems must clearly articulate how they arrive at specific recommendations, predictions, or alerts (Healthcare Brew, 2025). For therapists, this is crucial: explainability ensures clinicians can interpret AI-generated insights, communicate them transparently to clients and families, and make informed decisions rooted in professional accountability. AI in Physical Therapy: Real-Time, Personalized, and Predictive Care AI is fundamentally transforming physical therapy, making rehabilitation smarter, faster, and more accessible. Here’s how: Best Practice Recommendations for PTs and All Therapists Conclusion: A Turning Point in Physical Therapy and Beyond Elsa’s launch and the AMA’s new standards mark a significant shift in how AI is integrated into therapy and healthcare. For physical therapists, AI now offers real-time analysis, personalized care, predictive insights, and streamlined operations—enhancing outcomes while upholding the human connection at the heart of therapy. By selecting explainable, privacy-conscious tools and applying clinical reasoning, PTs and all therapists can safely integrate AI as a trusted partner in modern rehabilitation. References American Psychological Association. (2025, January). Harnessing the power of artificial intelligence. Business of AI in Healthcare. (2024, August 13). AI in physical therapy: Human movement analysis. EmpowerEMR. (2025, February 12). Artificial intelligence in physical therapy: Impact & applications. FDA. (2025a, June 2). FDA launches agency-wide AI tool to optimize performance for the American people. FDA. (2025b, June 3). FDA launches “Elsa” AI tool to aid drug approvals. Healthcare Brew. (2025, June 24). AI 411: June 2025. Hogan Lovells. (2025, June 12). FDA launches “Elsa” AI tool to aid drug approvals. Net Health. (2024, October 21). AI in physical therapy: The future of operations and patient care. Sali, S., Mavani, R., & Kaelin, M. (2025). Revolutionizing rehabilitation: How artificial intelligence is shaping the future of occupational therapy. Florida Occupational Therapy Association. ShadhinLab. (2025, March 3). How AI in physical therapy is transforming rehabilitation in 2025. SPRY PT. (2025, June 20). 2025 advancements in physical therapy: AI, VR & robotic tech. University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences. (2025, April). AI for speech therapy: Enhancing speech-language pathology training.