Artificial intelligence has become the shining star of modern medicine—helping detect cancers, easing workloads, and promising faster, more accurate diagnoses. But a growing body of research raises a difficult question: Is AI quietly making doctors worse at their jobs?
When Help Becomes a Crutch
AI has proven invaluable in areas like colonoscopies, where it assists doctors in spotting precancerous growths. But new research suggests that when doctors lean on AI for too long, their own detection skills weaken.
In a major study, physicians who had used AI tools for three months saw their accuracy drop by up to 20% when performing colonoscopies without assistance. This means that the very technology designed to make medicine safer could be eroding doctors’ ability to perform independently.
And it’s not just one specialty. Experts warn that “deskilling”—losing sharpness through overreliance—can spread across many medical fields if AI isn’t used thoughtfully.
The Bigger Problem: Cognitive and Ethical Risks
Beyond lost skills, AI reliance can lead to “moral deskilling.” This happens when doctors stop engaging deeply with patient cases, deferring too much to what the machine says.
That shift can chip away at clinical judgment, empathy, and even ethical decision-making—qualities no algorithm can replace.
For medical trainees, the risks are even greater. If AI becomes a default teaching tool, future generations of doctors could graduate with fewer hands-on skills, making them less prepared to practice without AI support.
Why This Matters for Patients
- Patient Safety at Risk – If doctors can’t perform as effectively without AI, outcomes could suffer when technology isn’t available or malfunctions.
- Loss of Clinical Judgment – Medicine relies on experience, intuition, and reasoning. Overdependence on AI weakens all three.
- Training Shortfalls – Young doctors may rely on AI too soon, missing chances to develop their own expertise.
- Trust in Care – Patients expect their doctor’s judgment—not a machine’s—to guide life-altering decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
| Q | A |
|---|---|
| Does AI really make doctors worse? | Evidence shows that prolonged reliance can weaken doctors’ skills, lowering accuracy when AI is turned off. |
| How much can performance drop? | Studies have shown a 20% decrease in polyp detection during colonoscopies without AI after extended use. |
| Is this only about colonoscopies? | No—the issue is broader. Any field where AI dominates could see skill erosion. |
| What is “moral deskilling”? | It’s when doctors lose confidence in ethical and clinical reasoning because they over-trust AI outputs. |
| How can this be prevented? | AI should complement—not replace—human expertise. Hospitals must train doctors in AI literacy, rotate tasks, and ensure decisions always involve human judgment. |
Final Thought
AI is medicine’s most powerful new ally—but only if used wisely. Handled poorly, it risks dulling the very skills that make doctors irreplaceable. The challenge ahead isn’t choosing between human or machine—it’s making sure doctors stay sharp while AI enhances their care.
Sources The New York Times
