Health-care AI is here. We don’t know if it actually helps patients.

AI is being used in hospitals for various tasks, including notetaking and interpreting medical exam results. Studies suggest that many of these tools can deliver accurate results, but it's unclear if they improve patient outcomes. Jenna Wiens, a computer scientist at the University of Michigan, and Anna Goldenberg of the University of Toronto, argue that many healthcare providers aren't rigorously assessing the effectiveness of these tools. 'Ambient AI' tools, also known as AI scribes, are being widely adopted, but their impact on patient health outcomes is unknown. AI-based technologies are used to predict patients' health trajectories and recommend treatments, but their accuracy doesn't necessarily translate to better health outcomes. The effect of these tools on clinical decision-making and patient health outcomes varies between hospitals and doctors.