A recent study published in JAMA Network Open has shed light on the trust levels of adults when it comes to the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare systems. The study found that 65.8% of adults surveyed had low trust in their health care system to use AI responsibly, and 57.7% had low trust in their health care systems to ensure that an AI tool would not harm them.
The research, conducted by Jodyn Platt, Ph.D., of the Department of Learning Health Sciences at the University of Michigan Medical School, and Paige Nong, Ph.D., of the University of Minnesota School of Public Health, surveyed a nationally representative sample of adults from the National Opinion Research Center’s AmeriSpeak Panel from June to July 2023.
One interesting finding was that adults who had higher levels of overall trust in their health care systems were more likely to believe that their providers would protect them from AI-related harm. However, female respondents were found to be less likely than male respondents to trust their health care systems to use AI responsibly.
Surprisingly, health literacy or AI knowledge did not seem to be associated with trust in AI. This suggests that building trust in the use of AI will require meaningful engagement and communication from health systems that adopt AI tools in patient care. The authors of the study also noted that future research should explore trust levels over time and with increased familiarity with AI.
In conclusion, the study highlights the importance of building trust in the responsible use of AI in healthcare systems. It emphasizes the need for improved communication about AI tools used in patient care and suggests that trust in AI will require ongoing engagement and education. More research is needed to understand how trust in AI evolves over time and with increased exposure to these technologies in healthcare settings.
For more information, you can access the full research letter in JAMA Network Open by Paige Nong and Jodyn Platt, titled “Patients’ Trust in Health Systems to Use Artificial Intelligence” published in 2025. The DOI for the study is 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.60628.
