People view physicians more negatively who disclose the use of artificial intelligence in their practice. This is the conclusion of a new study by psychologists from Würzburg.
From image analysis in radiology to creating differential diagnoses, artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming increasingly important in modern medicine. While more and more studies point to the potential of AI to improve our healthcare, many people have doubts about the competence of AI, especially when it comes to medical issues.
However, this skepticism does not only apply to AI itself, but can also extend to the physicians who use AI. This is the result of a new study that has now been published in the journal JAMA Network Open.
Effects arise even when AI is used for administrative purposes
The study finds that people judge physicians to be less competent, trustworthy, and empathetic when they allegedly use AI in their work. This effect was evident not only for the use of AI for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes, but even for administrative ones. In addition, respondents were also less willing to make an appointment with a physician if they were told that the doctor uses AI.
Responsible for this study are Moritz Reis and Professor Wilfried Kunde from the Department of Psychology III at Julius Maximilian University Würzburg (JMU). The study was conducted in collaboration with Florian Reis from the Institute for Medical Informatics at Charité Berlin.
Concern that doctors blindly trust AI
In the experiment, more than 1,200 participants received (fictitious) advertisements for family doctors. They were asked to rate the presented doctors in terms of their perceived competence, trustworthiness, and empathy. The advertisements differed from each other in only one respect: a single statement was added indicating that the shown physician uses AI for administrative, diagnostic, or therapeutic purposes. A control group received the same advertisement, but without such a statement.
Participants evaluated the shown physicians more negatively in every rating dimension -competence, trustworthiness, and empathy - if they allegedly used AI in their work.
"One possible reason for this finding could be that people are concerned that doctors blindly trust the AI," the authors of the study speculate.
The patient-doctor relationship is important for successful treatment
Medical studies show that a trusting patient-doctor relationship is a key factor for successful treatments. Given the increasing prevalence of AI in medicine, even small reductions in perceived trustworthiness can add up to significant negative effects.
"When doctors inform their patients about the use of AI, they should aim to address potential concerns and highlight possible benefits. For example, the use of AI for administrative purposes could help doctors to have more time for personal care of their patients. Despite increasing technologisation, AI could thereby make our healthcare even more human," the authors conclude.
Publication
Public Perception of Physicians Who Use Artificial Intelligence. JAMA Network Open. Moritz Reis, Florian Reis, Wilfried Kunde. DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.21643,
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2836557
