A new survey from the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus finds fewer Americans are open to AI being used in their healthcare, with comfort levels dropping significantly from 2024 to 2025.
The national poll of 1,007 adults conducted in January of this year found that only 42% are open to AI being used as part of their care, down from 52% in 2024. The belief that AI can make some health processes more efficient also dropped, from 64% to 55%.
The survey found that 51% of adults used AI to make important health decisions without consulting a medical professional. Finally, among those who used AI for health-related purposes, respondents reported the following uses:
- 62% used AI to help understand symptoms before deciding whether to seek medical care.
- 44% used AI to help explain test results or a medical diagnosis.
- 25% used AI to compare treatment options or help make a treatment decision.
- 20% used AI to prepare for an upcoming medical appointment.
"There's a strong value for using artificial intelligence as augmented intelligence," said Ravi Tripathi, MD, chief health informatics officer at the Center in a statement. "Patients should have oversight of what the technology is doing but consult with their health care team for the final plan."
