Belgian position paper on implementing artificial intelligence in cardiology: a roadmap from theory to clinical practice

Abstract

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly revolutionising cardiovascular medicine, offering significant potential to enhance patient outcomes, streamline clinical workflows, and optimise healthcare resource utilisation. However, integrating AI effectively into routine cardiology practice requires overcoming substantial technical, ethical, regulatory, and economic challenges. This position paper provides Belgian cardiologists, healthcare policymakers, and clinical leaders with a clear, pragmatic roadmap for implementing predictive, generative, and agentic AI technologies. We highlight successful real-world examples, outline precise criteria for clinical validation, propose practical reimbursement strategies, and detail steps to address ethical and regulatory obligations, emphasising AI as augmented rather than artificial intelligence. Our goal is to facilitate the safe, effective, and ethical adoption of AI technologies to augment Belgian cardiology practice.