AMA Study: AI Use Among U.S. Physicians Has Doubled Since 2023

AMA Study: AI Use Among U.S. Physicians Has Doubled Since 2023

The American Medical Association released new survey data on March 12, 2026 showing that artificial intelligence adoption among U.S. physicians has accelerated dramatically over the past three years.

Key findings from the 2026 AMA report:

• 81% of physicians now use AI in their practices — more than double the 38% recorded in 2023.
• More than three-quarters believe AI improves their ability to care for patients, up from 65% in 2023.
• 70% of physicians see AI as a tool for automating tasks that contribute to work-related burnout.
• The greatest expected advantages cited are diagnostic accuracy and workflow efficiency.

What Physicians Are Using AI For

Clinical documentation and note-taking remain the dominant use case, driven by AI scribing tools that reduce the time physicians spend on electronic health records. Diagnostic support tools — which help suggest differential diagnoses or flag potential abnormalities in imaging — have also seen significant uptake.

Remaining Concerns

Despite the enthusiasm, the survey also captured persistent concerns: accuracy of AI outputs, liability questions when AI is involved in clinical decisions, and uncertainty about how AI vendors handle sensitive patient data. The rapid adoption documented in this survey is occurring ahead of comprehensive regulatory frameworks for clinical AI, a gap that healthcare AI experts have flagged as a systemic risk.