Patient trust in health systems to use AI responsibly
For patients to accept AI as part of their healthcare plans, they need to be able to trust it. However, patient trust in health systems to responsibly use artificial intelligence (AI) remains a significant challenge. Surveys consistently show widespread concern. A 2023 JAMA Network Open study (Nong & Platt, 2025) found that fewer than half of U.S. adults trusted health systems to use AI responsibly, with levels of distrust particularly high among people who had experienced discrimination in healthcare. A Carta Healthcare survey went further, finding that 75% of U.S. patients did not trust AI use in their care, and many were unaware of whether providers were already using it.
The discomfort is not limited to abstract fears. A Pew Research Center report (Funk et al., 2023) showed that 60% of Americans would feel uncomfortable if their clinician relied on AI for diagnosis or treatment recommendations, while only 39% expressed comfort. Patients often cite worries about bias, lack of transparency, and the possibility of errors, concerns reinforced by evidence of racial and gender bias in AI-driven tools, such as under-diagnosis in minority populations. Together, these findings highlight that without stronger governance, transparency, and patient engagement, trust deficits will remain a major barrier to AI adoption in healthcare.
Sources:
Nong, P., & Platt, J. (2025). Patients’ trust in health systems to use artificial intelligence. JAMA Network Open, 8(2), e2460628-e2460628.
Carta Healthcare / Urology Times. (2023). Survey shows patient mistrust of AI use in health care. Retrieved from: https://www.urologytimes.com/view/survey-shows-patient-mistrust-of-ai-use-in-health-care
Funk, C., Tyson, A., & Kennedy, B. (2023). 60% of Americans would be uncomfortable with provider relying on AI in their own health care. Pew Research Center. Retrieved from: https://www.pewresearch.org/science/2023/02/22/60-of-americans-would-be-uncomfortable-with-provider-relying-on-ai-in-their-own-health-care/