The STAT+ article summarizes the five biggest AI stories in healthcare over the past month in early 2026. By the end of September 2026, the FDA has approved 1,357 AI devices for medical use, but insurance companies are paying for only a few of them. The debate over payment for clinical AI will intensify in 2026 as more devices enter the sector and only three AI devices have a permanent CPT code to date. The AI Prognosis newsletter collects readers' predictions about the development of health AI in 2026. In healthcare, AI is moving from research to real-world deployment, as stated by Dominic King of Microsoft AI.[1][4][5] The MAI-DxO system achieved a success rate of 85.5% in diagnosis, while experienced doctors only around 20% in complex cases.[1] AI can relieve doctors of administrative burdens and help with global staff shortages.[1][3]