2 in 3 physicians concerned about AI driving diagnosis, treatment decisions: Survey

Nearly 2 in 3 physicians are concerned about artificial intelligence’s (AI) influence on diagnosis and treatment decisions, according to a recent survey.

According to the Medscape survey released Monday, 65 percent of physicians in the survey are “very” or “somewhat” concerned about AI driving diagnosis and treatment decisions. Meanwhile, 36 percent said they were “not very” or “not at all” concerned about AI driving diagnosis and treatment decisions.

Other findings in the survey included 42 percent of physicians saying they are “enthusiastic” about AI’s future in the workplace, 30 percent saying they are “neutral” about the technology’s future, and 28 percent saying they are “apprehensive” about it.

Former Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Scott Gottlieb said in a July op-ed that AI could take over aspects of doctors’ jobs sooner than later.

“The inevitable question isn’t so much if, but when these artificial intelligence devices can step into the shoes of doctors. For some tasks, this medical future is sooner than we think,” Gottlieb wrote.

Physicians in the Medscape survey were a little more receptive and open when it comes to AI as a partner in diagnosis and treatment. More than half — 56 percent — said they were “very” enthusiastic or enthusiastic about AI as an adjunct in diagnosis and treatment, while 44 percent said they were “very” apprehensive or apprehensive as an adjunct.

Age was also a factor in physicians’ outlook on AI, with some younger doctors less enthusiastic about AI’s future in the workplace. Only 35 percent of doctors younger than 35 said they were “enthusiastic” about AI’s future in the workplace, while 47 percent of those between the ages of 45 and 54 said they were enthusiastic about AI’s future in the workplace. 

The survey, conducted from July 12 to Aug. 11, featured 1,043 respondents from more than 29 specialties and has a sampling error of 3.03 percent at a 95 confidence percent level.