Comfort With AI In Healthcare Declines As Use Rises

By Naomi Diaz

Public openness to AI in healthcare is declining even as more Americans turn to the technology to make medical decisions, an April 7 survey from The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center found.

The survey, conducted by SSRS on its Opinion Panel Omnibus platform, included a national sample of 1,007 adults from Jan. 16 to Jan. 20, 2026.

Here are four key findings from the survey:

1. Forty-two percent of respondents are open to AI being used as part of their care, down from 52% when the survey was first conducted in 2024.

2. Belief in AI’s ability to improve efficiency in healthcare also dropped, from 64% to 55%.

3. At the same time, the survey found growing reliance on AI tools for personal health decisions. About 51% of adults reported using AI to make an important health decision without consulting a healthcare professional.

4. The survey also examined how Americans are using AI in health-related situations. About 62% said they use it to understand symptoms before deciding whether to seek care, while 44% use it to help explain test results or diagnoses. Smaller shares reported using AI to compare treatment options (25%) or prepare for medical appointments (20%).

The survey results suggest that while AI adoption in healthcare continues to grow, public trust and expectations are evolving as users gain more experience with the technology.

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