Most Americans believe that AI will improve health care outcomes, reduce costs, in the next 10 years

Author(s):

Austin Littrell

Key Takeaways

A majority of U.S. adults believe AI will improve health outcomes and reduce healthcare costs in the next decade.
AI is seen as vital for training healthcare professionals and reducing disparities, with 75% and 77% support, respectively.
Concerns about AI's increasing use in healthcare persist, with 58% worried about insufficient human oversight.
Gwynedd Mercy University emphasizes ethical AI use, planning a Healthcare Innovation Center to integrate technology with empathy and ethics.

More than half of U.S. adults say AI will improve health outcomes and reduce costs, and three-quarters believe AI should play a role in health care education, survey says.

“It is thrilling to consider how technology will advance health care and enhance patient outcomes in the coming years,” said Jane Tang, PhD, RN, NE-BC, a professor and dean of the Frances M. Maguire College of Nursing and Health Professionals at Gwynedd Mercy University in Pennsylvania. A November 2024 survey of 2,099 U.S. adults, conducted on behalf of the university by The Harris Poll, demonstrated the confidence that U.S. adults have in artificial intelligence (AI)—particularly in the health care industry.

More than half (59%) of the surveyed adults expressed their confidence that using AI technology to assist in diagnosis and treatment will result in better health outcomes for patients in the next 10 years. Many of the respondents (57%) believe the implementation of AI will also reduce the cost of health care within the next decade.

Additionally, 75% of U.S. adults believe AI should play a role in educating and training health care professionals and 77% of U.S. adults believe AI can effectively reduce health care disparities within the next five years. Specifically, 42% believe AI will allow for enhanced early detection of diseases and 36% believe the use of AI-powered diagnostic tools will make health care more affordable.

“While AI can never replace the critical human connection in health care, the ability to automate certain tasks will allow physicians, nurses and other clinicians to focus more on delivering exceptional patient care,” Tang explained. Survey respondents echoed these views, with 65% and 64% viewing AI-assisted scheduling, billing and other administrative tasks as enhancing the patient experience and reducing costs, respectively.

Notably, 77% of adults expressed their personal willingness to utilize AI-assisted health care services. Roughly one-third of respondents would consider using AI for remote monitoring of chronic conditions (35%), predictive health alerts (33%) or virtual health assistance (31%).

Despite this willingness, 88% of Americans expressed personal concerns about the increasing use of AI in health care settings, with 58% worried about the lack of human oversight—underscoring the importance of proper AI implementation.

“We recognize the impact of AI in the field and remain focused on preparing students to balance technological advancements with the empathy and ethical decision-making that define exceptional healthcare,” said Deanne H. D’Emilio, JD, president of Gwynedd Mercy University. The school plans to open their Frances M. Maguire ’55 Healthcare Innovation Center (HIC) in 2025, which will “emphasize the intentional and ethical use of technology, including AI,” according to the release.