The American Medical Association (AMA) is actively shaping the ethical and responsible use of augmented intelligence (AI) in healthcare, advocating for policies that enhance human intelligence rather than replace it. This push comes as physician adoption of AI tools has rapidly increased, with more than 80% of doctors reporting AI use in their professional work by 2026, a significant jump from 2023. This growing integration highlights both the potential and the ongoing concerns within the medical community.
The AMA’s commitment ensures that AI can advance clinical care and improve clinician well-being. As the number of AI-enabled healthcare tools grows, the AMA emphasizes the critical need for ethical, equitable, and responsible design, development, and deployment. Transparency is a key requirement for both physicians and patients regarding AI use in healthcare.
Augmented Intelligence vs. Artificial Intelligence
The AMA House of Delegates uses the term augmented intelligence (AI) to conceptualize artificial intelligence. This terminology focuses on AI’s assistive role, highlighting its design to enhance human intelligence instead of replacing it. This distinction underpins the AMA’s policy framework, which seeks to guide the technology’s integration into medical practice.
AMA’s Policy on AI in Healthcare
Recognizing the expanding role of AI in medical devices and healthcare administration, the AMA has developed new policy to address its development, deployment, and use. This policy particularly emphasizes several key areas. These include oversight for healthcare AI, transparency requirements for disclosing AI use, and governance for generative AI systems.
The policy also covers physician liability when using AI-enabled technologies and addresses AI data privacy and cybersecurity concerns. Furthermore, it outlines considerations for payor use of AI and automated decision-making systems. Through its PolicyFinder, the AMA provides access to current AI policy initiatives.
Physician Sentiment and Adoption Trends
A comprehensive AMA study in 2023, surveying over 1,000 physicians, captured sentiment on AI use in healthcare. The study evaluated current usage, future motivations, key concerns, and areas of opportunity. The rapidly evolving nature of AI in healthcare led the AMA to repeat this study in late 2024 and 2026.
By 2026, the study revealed that more than 80% of physicians reported using AI in their professional work. This figure represents double the rate reported in 2023. Confidence in these tools has also increased; in 2026, over three-quarters of physicians stated that AI improves their ability to care for patients, up from 65% in 2023.
Balancing Optimism with Key Concerns
Despite the growing adoption and confidence, a cautious optimism remains prevalent among physicians. Approximately 40% of physicians express feeling both excited and concerned about AI’s role in healthcare. Their primary concerns center on safeguarding patient privacy and preserving the integrity of the patient-physician relationship. These issues highlight the ethical challenges that must be addressed as AI healthcare tools become more integrated.
The AMA’s ongoing research aims to identify necessary resources for physicians to implement AI tools effectively. The 2026 study expanded to examine physician perspectives on patient use of AI and specific training needs. This includes concerns about potential skill loss as AI adoption continues to accelerate across various medical practices and administrative functions. The balance between technological advancement and human oversight remains a central theme for the AMA and the broader healthcare industry. These policy discussions also align with broader trends in cybersecurity requirements for healthcare manufacturers.
As clinical use of AI continues to grow in both prevalence and scope, the AMA’s policy framework aims to guide this expansion responsibly. The emphasis on ethical deployment, transparency, and addressing physician concerns about patient privacy and professional relationships will be critical for AI to meet its full potential in healthcare. The AMA’s continued monitoring of physician sentiment and policy development reflects an ongoing effort to navigate the complexities of AI integration while prioritizing patient care and clinician well-being.
