Americans Express Hesitation Toward AI in Health Care

A new survey finds that most adults remain uncomfortable with artificial intelligence performing medical tasks.

Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Artificial Intelligence

Isometric editorial illustration of a solitary diagnostic apparatus in a sterile clinic room, representing skepticism toward AI in healthcare. — A recent Pew Research Center survey indicates that 60% of American adults are uncomfortable with the use of artificial intelligence in medical diagnosis and treatment. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Would you feel comfortable if your doctor relied on AI to diagnose your health condition?

A Pew Research Center survey of 3,488 American adults finds that 60% of people feel uncomfortable with health care providers using artificial intelligence for diagnosis and treatment. While respondents remain skeptical of AI clinical involvement, 78% are open to using the technology for translating health information.

Why it matters

The findings highlight a significant gap between technological capabilities and public trust in the American healthcare system. Concerns over privacy and the patient-provider relationship present substantial hurdles for widespread adoption of AI tools in clinical settings.

The survey, which maintains a margin of sampling error of 1.8 percentage points, was conducted via the American Trends Panel. Data collection included 3,362 online interviews and 126 telephone interviews.

The players

Pew Research Center

This nonpartisan fact tank conducts public opinion polling and demographic research on various social and political issues.

SSRS

This is a full-service survey research firm that specializes in data collection via phone and online methodologies.

The details

Nearly half of respondents oppose AI involvement in insurance decisions, with 51% believing the technology will worsen the privacy of their health information. Furthermore, 47% of those surveyed expect AI to negatively impact the personal relationship between patients and their healthcare providers.

The survey was conducted from June 22-28, 2026.
The research findings were released on October 29, 2026.

The Tech Race

The public anxiety regarding AI privacy aligns with the protections set by the HIPAA Privacy Rule, extending the debate to new algorithmic data processing. This survey marks a departure from rapid industry implementation by showing that consumer trust remains a bottleneck for the deployment of diagnostic AI.

Patients may find themselves increasingly asked to consent to AI-assisted care, making it essential to understand how their health information is processed. These survey results suggest that individuals should actively verify how their data is handled when AI tools are used for diagnosis.

The takeaway

Public sentiment toward medical AI is currently defined by caution rather than enthusiasm, especially regarding sensitive health data. Readers should remain proactive by asking providers about the role of automation in their specific treatment plans.