Patient Trust in Healthcare AI Has Dropped Sharply Since 2024
Just 42% of adults are willing to use AI in their own healthcare, down from 52% two years ago, according to a survey by Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center of 1,007 adults across the country.
The decline reflects what experts call a natural correction after the initial hype around new technology. Ravi Tripathi, chief health informatics officer at Ohio State Wexner Medical Center, said the pattern is predictable: "When we first see something new and shiny, we think it's going to fix the world. People are learning that there are pros and cons."
The survey also found that belief in AI's ability to make healthcare more efficient fell to 55% from 64% in 2024.
Patients Use AI for Health Research Despite Reservations
Despite lower trust in medical AI, over half of survey respondents (51%) still use AI to help make health decisions without consulting a doctor.
The most common uses were:
- 62% use it to understand symptoms
- 44% use it to explain test results or diagnoses
- 25% use it to compare treatments
- 20% use it to prepare for appointments
Tripathi cautioned against over-reliance on these tools. AI systems produce inaccurate or hallucinated information roughly 2% of the time, he said, and they lack understanding of individual patient context.
"The artificial intelligence doesn't understand your story," Tripathi said.
The Right Way to Use AI in Healthcare
Tripathi recommends using AI as a supplement to medical care, not a replacement. AI can compile health data, explain results, and help patients prepare questions for their doctors.
"There's a strong value for using artificial intelligence as augmented intelligence," he said. "Patients should have oversight of what the technology is doing but consult with their health care team for the final plan."
Tripathi expects patient trust to recover within two to five years as AI becomes more familiar and integrated into standard healthcare technology.
Doctors Are Adopting AI Faster Than Patients
Physicians show greater confidence in medical AI than patients do. According to the American Medical Association, 81% of doctors now use AI to stay current on research and manage records - roughly double the rate in 2023.
About 76% of physicians believe AI can help with patient care. However, 40% said they feel both excited and worried about the technology, citing concerns about patient privacy and the strength of the doctor-patient relationship.
The global AI healthcare market is projected to reach $868 billion by 2030, with AI's share of overall healthcare spending expected to more than double from about 15% today to over 30% by 2030.
For healthcare professionals navigating this shift, understanding both the capabilities and limitations of AI tools is essential. Learn more about AI for Healthcare and how to integrate these systems responsibly into clinical practice.
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