Survey of America’s Doctors Reveals Biggest Opportunities, Current Gaps for AI

Insights from Inlightened’s healthcare experts reveal a blueprint for innovators developing AI solutions

Solutions for revenue collection, competitive positioning, training, and guideline development will be well-positioned as AI adoption becomes more widespread across healthcare

Inlightened, a tech-enabled insights platform that connects innovative client companies to a network of vetted healthcare professionals (HCPs), today announced the findings of a survey of U.S. physicians regarding AI. The findings reveal current usage and benefits, in addition to unrealized opportunities for novel solutions.

The findings

• More than half – 57% – are currently using AI tools at work, such as ambient listening/clinical documentation, billing, chatbots, and diagnostics
• 26% are using AI tools because they believe they provide a competitive advantage
• Less than 1 in 3 (28%) say they feel prepared when it comes to leveraging AI’s benefits and protecting patients from its risks
• Nearly 4 out of 10 (38%) said their organization does not have guidelines for the use of AI
• Half (52%) believe AI will be an ally in their current role. Of those:
  • 29% believe AI will enable them to capture more revenue
  • 40% believe it will both enable more accurate billing and help them design treatment plans for patients
• 3 out of 10 believe AI will be both an ally and a threat. Of those:
  • 76% said AI is a potential threat because they could be held accountable for AI errors if patient data is misrepresented
  • 57% said AI is a potential ally because it will help improve patient diagnoses
  • 23% said AI is a potential threat because it will erode trust with their patients
• For those who feel unprepared to leverage AI’s benefits and protect patients from its risks to feel more prepared:
  • 55% said case studies/examples from colleagues/others in similar roles
  • 45% said outside training (i.e., AI/tech expert outside my organization)

“These findings reveal significant opportunity for AI to drive responsible disruption across healthcare,” said Shelli Pavone, co-founder and president, Inlightened. “America’s doctors are ready and willing to try AI for a number of use cases, but need the right solutions to demonstrate both the business and [delivery of] care case. The opportunities are vast for companies to close existing gaps – e.g., AI for revenue capture – while addressing clinicians’ concerns, such as AI’s potential to erode trust between a doctor and patient and the question of accountability. I believe the companies that position themselves – and their solutions – as physicians’ advocates will stand out and impact the future of healthcare.”

According to the findings, 3 out of 10 clinicians feel their organization is behind in regards to developing guidelines for the use of AI, highlighting an opportunity – and need – for leaders to ensure those within their organizations have clear guidance for the inevitable adoption of AI tools.

When asked what impact they believe AI will have on healthcare in the U.S., the top answers were:

• “I believe AI will improve patient outcomes” – 55%
• “I believe AI will reduce clinical burnout” – 50%
• “I believe AI will lower healthcare costs” – 47%
• “I believe AI will lead to increased data and security breaches” – 42%

“These results mirror the conversations I’m having with colleagues about the promises and risks of AI,” said Dr. Oren Mechanic, MD, MPH, MBA, practicing physician, professor, and strategic advisor. “The technology’s promise for improving both the delivery of care and patient outcomes is exciting, and we are currently at an important crossroad that could determine the future of healthcare in the U.S. With the widespread adoption of tools, there are still some gaps to fill, such as the dissemination of compliance guidance. These survey findings highlight the need for the right leadership to ensure we are pursuing AI’s promises and mitigating its risks, such as privacy. As with many healthcare innovations, we will soon better understand all the ways this technology can help us improve our patients’ – and our own – experience with the healthcare system.”

To download the report, visit: https://info.getinlightened.com/ai-report?utm_source=PR

Survey Methodology

Inlightened sent the online survey to a randomized sample of its clinician experts and received 72 responses between March 4 and March 19, 2025.

About Inlightened

Inlightened is the go-to SaaS platform for healthcare innovation. We connect client organizations to on-demand insights, via an unparalleled network of curated, vetted, and engaged experts. In addition to being recognized among Forbes’ Inaugural Next 1000, Inlightened has been featured in Crunchbase, Forbes, and MedCity News. We were acquired by LocumTenens.com, part of the Jackson Healthcare® family of companies, in August of 2023, and continue to operate as an independent entity.

Learn more at www.getinlightened.com.

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