Physicians increasingly rely on AI for clinical insights, not just administrative tasks, a new survey shows. Yet, they remain worried about the technology’s accuracy and possible effect on trainees.

The initial wave of AI adoption was focused on administrative work, especially in supporting clinical documentation — a notorious driver of clinician burnout.

While AI is continuing to help physicians mitigate time-consuming administrative tasks, the Doximity survey of more than 3,300 of the firm’s U.S. doctors shows that physicians are increasingly using it to support clinical decision-making. The share of physicians using AI for clinical decision support nearly doubled to 63%, up from 37% in 2025.

Also, more physicians — 70% from just over half in last year’s survey — are using AI to comb through troves of medical literature.

The survey indicates that physicians may be learning from AI too. A majority (81%) of physicians said that using AI has taught them something they previously didn't know, including updated guidelines, alternative diagnoses or treatment options they hadn't considered. Another 65% said that AI tools have helped with developing their clinical skills and knowledge.

But that support is also raising concerns about the technology's impact on greener providers, with 61% worrying that trainees will rely on AI too much and not develop their own set of clinical skills.

And that fear is not limited to trainees. Nearly half of the physicians surveyed said they were concerned about overreliance on AI, and more than a quarter of physicians acknowledged that skill erosion is the main factor limiting their use of AI.

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