Physicians’ use of artificial intelligence has more than doubled since 2023, with an American Medical Association survey reporting that 81% currently use the technology in professional settings.
Additionally, approximately 1,700 physician respondents surveyed in January and February reported an average of 2.3 use cases. This is also up from an average of 1.1 use cases in 2023, when organizations first began their near-annual poll on the topic.
Most common among physician users were applications focused on documenting clinical care and summarizing medical research. The AMA noted that the percentage of physicians using AI in research summaries and standard of care increased by 26 points from the previous survey to 39%.
Meanwhile, despite underlying wariness and concerns, doctors’ trust and expectations for AI are increasing year by year.
For example, the belief that AI-enabled tools will give doctors an advantage in their ability to care for patients increased from 65% in 2023 to 76% in 2026. The proportion saying they were more excited than concerned about the potential for increased use increased from 30% to 37%, and 40% said they were equally excited and concerned about the impact on clinical practice.
When asked about the impact of AI on specific problems, physicians most often said they expected AI to be somewhat or very helpful with work efficiency (78%), diagnostic ability (74%), and cognitive overload (64%). Patient privacy was the only measure where more people said they expected AI to harm rather than help (41% vs. 13%). However, opinions were relatively divided regarding the patient-physician relationship (34% vs. 38%).
Another prominent concern for the doctors surveyed is the decline in skills due to reliance on AI. When asked about this issue, 88% expressed some level of concern, and 70% expressed concern that current medical students and residents would be affected. Only 28% of respondents said they were personally concerned about a decline in skills due to the use of AI, but this was higher among junior physicians (35%) and primary care physicians (34%).
The study comes just months after the AMA launched its Center for Digital Health and AI, and its efforts to guide focused policy as AI tools are developed and deployed.
The Policy Center published a research report on Thursday, highlighting frequent responses that emphasize the importance of ensuring data privacy and verifying safety and effectiveness in further introducing AI into practice. We also highlighted that 85% of physicians say they want to have a say in the implementation of AI in their practice, and clarifying accountability frameworks as a top regulatory priority that can increase trust and adoption.
“AI has quickly become part of daily medical practice, and physicians are seeing real excitement in AI’s ability to support clinical decision-making and reduce administrative burden. But as this technology advances, it is important that augmented intelligence is designed to augment, not replace, physicians,” AMA CEO Dr. John White said in the release. “For physicians to trust and use these tools, they must be safe, effective, and used responsibly to truly improve patient care. The AMA will continue to lead this effort and help shape how physicians integrate AI into their healthcare.”
The AMA survey includes responses from approximately 1,700 physicians across a variety of specialties, practices, and career stages. Respondents self-reported a median of 20 years of work experience and 35 hours of direct patient care per week. Unlike previous versions of the survey, participants are not required to answer every question, and sample sizes vary by topic.
