AMA: Physicians' use of AI doubled from 2023 to 2026

Physicians’ use of artificial intelligence has more than doubled since 2023, with 81% surveyed by the American Medical Association reporting that they currently use the technology in a professional context. 

Further, nearly 1,700 physician respondents queried in January and February reported, on average, 2.3 use cases. This was also up from 1.1 average use cases in 2023, when the organization first began its near-annual polling on the topic. 

The most common among the physician users were applications focused on documenting clinical care and summarizing medical research. The AMA noted that the proportion of physicians using AI for summaries of research and standards of care rose 26 percentage points from the previous survey to 39%. 

Meanwhile, physicians’ confidence in and excitement for AI has grown year to year despite an accompanying undercurrent of caution and concern. 

For instance, the belief that AI-enabled tools give physicians an advantage in their ability to care from patients has grown from 65% in 2023 to 76% in 2026. The portion who said the potential increased use was more exciting than concerning rose from 30% to 37%, with 40% reporting they were equally excited and concerned about its impact on clinical practice. 

When asked about AI’s impact on specific issues, physicians most commonly said they anticipate AI will be somewhat or very helpful in regard to work efficiency (78%), diagnostic ability (74%), and cognitive overload (64%). Patient privacy was the only avenue in which more respondents said they expect AI to cause harm than help (41% versus 13%), though they were also relatively split on the topic of patient-physician relationships (34% versus 38%). 

The other prominent worry for polled physicians: skill loss due to reliance on AI. When asked about the issue, 88% had some level of concern with 70% outlining worries that current medical students and residents would be impacted. Only 28% said they were personally concerned about skill loss due to AI use, though that response was higher among early-career doctors (35%) and primary care physicians (34%).

The survey comes just a few months after the AMA launched the Center for Digital Health and AI, its bid to guide the policies coming into focus as development and adoption of AI tools continues. 

The policy center authored Thursday’s survey report, which highlighted frequent responses stressing the importance of data privacy assurances and safety and efficacy validation for further adoption of AI into practice. It also underscored responses from 85% of physicians who want to have a say on AI adoption in their practice, and clear liability frameworks as a top regulatory priority that could increase trust and adoption.

“AI has quickly become part of everyday medical practice. Physicians see real promise in its ability to support clinical decisions and cut down on administrative burden. But as this technology advances, it is critical that augmented intelligence be designed to enhance—not replace—physicians.” AMA CEO John Whyte, M.D., said in a release. “For doctors to trust and use these tools, they must be safe, effective, and used responsibly so they truly improve patient care. The AMA will continue leading this work, so physicians help shape how AI is integrated into medicine.”

The AMA’s survey included responses from nearly 1,700 physicians across various specialties, practice settings and career stages. Respondents self-reported a median of 20 years in practice and 35 hours per week of direct patient care. Unlike prior versions of the survey, participants were not required to respond to all questions, leading to varying sample sizes from topic to topic.