Item 1A. Risk Factors
Item 1A. Risk Factors.
There were no material changes from the risk factors previously disclosed in our 2024 Annual Report on Form 10-K, as filed with the SEC on February 28, 2025, other than as set forth below.
The use of, or inability to use, artificial intelligence by us, our operators, our tenants and our vendors presents risks and challenges that may adversely impact our business and operating results or the business and operating results of our operators and tenants or may adversely impact the demand for properties.
We may use generative artificial intelligence and/or machine learning, or AI, tools in our operations. If our peers use AI tools to optimize operations and we fail to utilize AI tools in a comparable manner, we may be competitively disadvantaged. However, while AI tools may facilitate optimization and operational efficiencies, they also have the potential for inaccuracy, bias, infringement or misappropriation of intellectual property, and risks related to data privacy and cybersecurity. The use of AI tools may introduce errors or inadequacies that are not easily detectable, including deficiencies, inaccuracies or biases in the data used for AI training, or in the content, analyses or recommendations generated by AI applications. The results of such errors or inadequacies may adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. The legal requirements relating to AI continue to evolve and remain uncertain, including how legal developments could impact our business and ability to enforce our proprietary rights or protect against infringement of those rights.
Cybersecurity threat actors may utilize AI tools to automate and enhance cybersecurity attacks against us. We utilize software and platforms designed to detect such cybersecurity threats, including AI-based tools, but these threats could become more sophisticated and harder to detect and counteract, which may pose significant risks to our data security and systems. Such cybersecurity attacks, if successful, could lead to data breaches, loss of confidential or sensitive information and financial or reputational harm.
Our vendors may use AI tools in their products or services without our knowledge, and the providers of these tools may not meet the evolving regulatory or industry standards for privacy and data protection. Consequently, this may inhibit our or our vendors' ability to uphold an appropriate level of service and data privacy. If we, our vendors or other third parties with which we conduct business experience an actual or perceived breach of privacy or security incident due to the use of AI, we may be adversely impacted, lose valuable intellectual property or confidential information and incur harm to our reputation and the public perception of the effectiveness of our security measures.
In addition, investors, analysts and other market participants may use AI tools to process, summarize or interpret our financial information or other data about us. The use of AI tools in financial and market analysis may introduce risks similar to those described above, including an inaccurate interpretation of our financial or operational performance or market trends or conditions, which in turn could result in inaccurate conclusions or investment recommendations.
Changes in federal, state or local laws or regulations may limit our opportunities to participate in the ownership of, or investment in, healthcare real estate.
Changes in federal, state, or local laws or regulations, including changes limiting REIT investment in the healthcare sector, reducing healthcare-related tax benefits for REITs, or requiring additional approvals for healthcare entities to transact with REITs, could have a material adverse effect on our ability to participate in the ownership of or invest in healthcare providers and healthcare real estate. Legislation potentially impacting REIT ownership and investment in the healthcare sector has recently been introduced or is under discussion at the federal and state level. Such legislation or similar laws or regulations, if enacted, could have a material adverse impact on our business.
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