AMA takes physicians’ collective temperature on current, planned use of AI

For AI to achieve sweeping adoption across U.S. medicine, physicians will need to be assured they won’t be held liable should clinical algorithms make mistakes.

The nation’s doctors also would be more welcoming of the technology if malpractice insurance covered such errors and the privacy of patient data were a lock.

Those are the three top barriers to adoption as identified from a survey recently conducted by the American Medical Association. The group received responses from 1,081 physicians—661 specialists and 420 primary care providers.

The field was about evenly divided between self-described tech adopters (n = 525) and tech avoiders (556). Here are five more highlights from the survey findings. Note: The AMA uses AI for augmented intelligence.

1. Two-thirds of AMA-surveyed physicians perceive an advantage to using tools with AI.

Of these, 22% see a definite advantage and 43% see some advantage. Far fewer see a definite disadvantage (6%) or some disadvantage (5%). Some 25% are neutral, seeing neither advantage nor disadvantage in these tools.

2. Physicians are split about evenly in on the level of excitement and concern over the use of AI.

41% are equally concerned and excited about the technology. 30% are more excited than concerned, and 29% are more concerned than excited.

3. Use cases generating the most positive expectations involve administrative tasks.

Documentation of billing codes, medical charts or visit notes led the chart on excitement, registering with 54% of the field. Not far behind were automation of insurance preauthorization (48%), creation of discharge instructions, care plans and/or progress notes (43%) and generation of chart summaries (42%).

4. Most respondents would prefer to be at least consulted on tech decisions—but one-fifth have no say in these matters.

Half of physicians, 50%, like to be consulted on technology selection and related activities, while 36% wish to be fully responsible. However, 20% currently have no influence on these decisions and 32% merely have their opinions “considered.” On the other hand, 20% have all or most influence and 28% share influence with others.

5. Just over 1 in 5 use ChatGPT in their professional life and a third use it in their personal life.

Some 17% occasionally use ChatGPT in their work and 5% use it often. In their personal lives, 25% use it occasionally and 7% use it often.

Read or download the full survey report here.