Health · Healthcare & Policy · 3 hrs ago
Survey finds Americans want human oversight of AI in healthcare
A Pew survey of 3,488 U.S. adults found that people are more comfortable with AI handling healthcare administration than making decisions about care.
Respondents were open to uses such as scheduling appointments and translating medical notes, especially when a person checks the work.
Many draw the line at AI-led diagnoses and insurance decisions: about four in 10 said AI should not make diagnoses, and 46% said it should not decide insurance claims, even with human review.
Six in 10 were uncomfortable with doctors using AI for tasks such as diagnosis and treatment.
The findings come as healthcare providers and companies are adopting AI tools for tasks including note-taking and scheduling.
Many people want providers to say when AI is being used, and 46% said they did not know whether it had been used in their own care.
Views remain divided on AI's effect on care: roughly a third expected it to improve care, while a similar share expected it to make care worse.
A Pew Research Center survey found that many Americans support AI for healthcare tasks but want human oversight.
Respondents were more open to AI handling administrative work than making diagnoses or insurance decisions.
Some 60% said they would be uncomfortable if their doctor used AI for diagnosis and treatment.
Nearly half said they did not know whether AI had ever been used while they received care.
Respondents were divided on whether AI would improve or worsen the quality of medical care.
- Who
- Pew Research Center surveyed 3,488 U.S. adults.
- What
- The survey examined views on AI use in healthcare, including medical tasks and insurance decisions.
- When
- The survey was conducted in June; the articles were published on Nov. 4 and Nov. 5, 2026.
- Where
- The survey covered U.S. adults.
- Why
- Not stated
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Pew Research Center polled more than 3,400 U.S. adults about AI in healthcare.
Healthcare Dive published its report on the survey.
CBS News published its report on the survey.
- Survey sample
- 3,488 U.S. adults
- Uncomfortable with AI diagnosis and treatment
- 60%
- Unsure whether AI had been used in their care
- 46%
- Uncomfortable with AI making a diagnosis
- 60%
- Little to no confidence in healthcare payers acting in patients’ best interest
- 58%
2 sources
What people are saying
Overall, people say it's extremely important that their healthcare provider tell them if they are using AI
There is a lack of clarity on the side of the public
People are concerned about patient-doctor relationships and the security of their own health information