AI tools that take notes for GPs could miss vital information, study suggests
A study from the University of Edinburgh suggests that AI ambient scribes used by GPs may miss critical non-verbal information and emotional context during consultations. While these tools improve administrative efficiency, researchers warn of potential deskilling and patient hesitation.
Why it matters
As AI integration in healthcare grows, balancing administrative automation with the quality of the doctor-patient relationship remains a significant challenge.
Image source, Getty Images Published 13 minutes ago AI tools that are used to take medical notes from patients could miss vital information and lead to medical staff being deskilled, according to new research.
The tools, called ambient AI scribes, are used by about 40% of GPs in the UK. The scribes listen to conversations between doctors and patients and convert the speech to text, generating written notes and letters.
Academics at University of Edinburgh reviewed cases involving the scribes and found the tech had some positives, such as allowing clinicians to focus on complex tasks.
However, they also said patients could be less forthcoming if they knew they were being recorded and found instances where doctors did not recognise their notes.
The findings are peer-reviewed and have been published in the British Medical Journal's digital health and AI publication , external .
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