Beyond Technology: The Human Bottlenecks in AI Adoption for Genomics
“We bought the AI. Where’s the value?” — The question echoing through genomics labs worldwide
Prof. Dr. M M Ananth, Ph.D
University of Cambridge, UK
Founder, Academic Network • Vice Chancellor (Twice) • FCS and DAAD Fellow • Founding VC, Adani University
In a thought-provoking keynote at the CATALYST AI Genomics Forum 2025, Prof. M M Ananth challenged the prevailing narrative around AI adoption in genomics, arguing that the real obstacles aren’t technological—they’re deeply human.
of genomics labs report difficulties making their data AI-ready, while less than a third believe their infrastructure is prepared
— Pistoia Alliance Lab of the Future Survey 2024; Cisco AI Readiness Index 2024
Speaking to an engaged audience of genomics professionals, clinicians, and researchers at The Hillock in Ahmedabad, Prof. Ananth presented a compelling framework identifying four critical human bottlenecks that impede AI adoption—even when the technology itself is ready for deployment.
The Four Human Bottlenecks
EDUCATION
Teams lack AI literacy; powerful tools sit underutilized
ETHICS
No governance; bias and accountability remain unclear
COLLABORATION
Silos prevent knowledge sharing; labs reinvent wheels
SUSTAINABILITY
Short-term pilots succeed, long-term adoption fails
“Your AI is only as good as the person using it. The goal isn’t AI expertise for everyone—it’s AI confidence.”
— Prof. M M Ananth
Live Audience Insights
The interactive session featured real-time polling that revealed the current state of AI readiness among attending genomics professionals.
AI Governance Documentation Status
“Has your organization formally documented AI governance policies?”
Post-Session Priority Actions
“What’s your first priority after this session?”
Biggest Challenges Identified by Audience
Strategic Solutions Framework
Prof. Ananth outlined actionable strategies for each bottleneck, emphasizing that sustainable AI adoption requires systematic investment in people and processes, not just technology.
Insight: AI confidence matters more than AI expertise
First Step: Assess team’s current AI literacy
Insight: Proactive governance is competitive advantage
First Step: Document AI validation process
Insight: Your competitor is pace of change, not other labs
First Step: Identify one academic partner this quarter
Insight: You can’t sustain what you can’t measure
First Step: Define success metrics before starting
“Technology is ready. The question is: are your people, processes, and partnerships?”
— Prof. M M Ananth
About CATALYST AI Genomics Forum 2025
The two-day forum (December 19-20, 2025) brought together leading voices in AI-driven genomics, featuring keynotes on neuropathology, clinical reporting, precision oncology, and metagenomics. Sponsored by BaseSolve and AUGMET Precision Genomics.
