The global health landscape, particularly in conflict-affected areas, faces multiple crises marked by severe healthcare worker (HCWs) shortages and misallocations. For example, in Syria, tens of thousands of HCWs have been forced to leave Syria due to more than a decade of conflict.1 A 2019 World Bank and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) report noted that from 2010 to 2018, the number of doctors in Syria was reduced from 0.529 to 0.291 per 1000 persons.2 This scarcity is even greater in specialised areas such as intensive care units (ICUs), oncology, radiology and laboratory services. In such contexts, leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) becomes not just a beneficial but an essential consideration, particularly in specialities where data-driven decision-making can be harnessed for improved clinical care. In this commentary, we explore the use of AI for direct healthcare services and broader considerations in the humanitarian sector, including potential associated risks.