AMA Survey: Physicians Warm Up to Using AI in Practice

Physician sentiments about AI are trending more positive, with growing recognition of its benefits, according to a survey by the American Medical Association.

The latest edition of AMA’s Augmented Intelligence Research survey examined changes in physician sentiment towards health AI from August 2023 to November 2024.

The survey was conducted among practicing physicians using the Qualtrics survey platform and the AMA Physician Professional Data file and drew 1,183 responses.

The portion of physicians whose enthusiasm exceeded their concerns with health AI increased to 35% in 2024 from 30% in 2023. While the portion of physicians whose concerns exceeded their enthusiasm for health AI decreased to 25% in 2024 from 29% in 2023. Two in five physicians remain equally excited and concerned about health AI with almost no change between 2023 and 2024.

Usage of AI use cases nearly doubled (66% in 2024 vs. 38% in 2023) in just one year. More physicians are using AI for visit documentation, discharge summaries and care plans, and medical research and standard of care summaries than in 2023.

Surveyed physicians emphasize the need for a feedback loop, data privacy assurances, seamless workflow integration, and adequate training and education as critical factors for AI adoption. Nearly half of physicians (47%) ranked increased oversight as the number one regulatory action needed to increase trust in adopting AI tools.

“The AMA survey illustrates that physicians are increasingly intrigued by the assistive role of health AI and the potential of AI-enable tools to reduce administrative burdens, enhance diagnostic accuracy, and personalize treatments,” said AMA Immediate Past President Jesse M. Ehrenfeld, M.D., M.P.H., in a statement. “But there remain unresolved physician concerns with the design of health AI and the potential of flawed AI-enabled tools to put privacy at risk, integrate poorly with EHR systems, offer incorrect conclusions or recommendations, and introduce new liability concerns. Increased oversight ranked as the top regulatory action needed to increase physician confidence and adoption of AI.”