Despite Geoffrey Hinton's 2016 prediction that AI would kill radiology, the profession has grown 10% over a decade, with radiologist salaries reaching $571,000 as of 2025 and demand outpacing supply.

In 2016, Geoffrey Hinton declared AI would eliminate radiology within five to ten years. Over the past 10 years, however, the number of active radiologists in the U.S. has grown by about 10%, and there were about 4,333 active job listings for radiologists as of March, with a 130-day average to fill each position.

The average salary for radiologists reached $571,000 as of 2025, up 9% year over year. Radiologists perform multiple tasks beyond reading scans—consulting with other physicians, monitoring patients, and some performing hands-on procedures—so automation of scan-reading alone does not eliminate the role.

Medicare and Medicaid will only reimburse for a radiology study if a licensed physician performs the final read, and it remains unclear how AI can be held responsible for a missed diagnosis. Between 2018 and early 2025, radiology case loads increased 25%, keeping demand high despite AI tools approved by the Food and Drug Administration.