AI may prioritize efficiency over patient care in hospitals

Proponents of what has been called “Deep Medicine” argue that AI can free physicians from repetitive tasks, giving them more time to build trust with patients. The study challenges this narrative by examining how healthcare institutions are likely to use the technology.

The promise of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare often comes wrapped in optimism, with advocates predicting a future where technology relieves doctors of administrative burdens and allows more meaningful patient interactions. However, a new study offers a starkly different view.

Submitted on arXiv, the research argues that AI is more likely to erode, rather than restore, the human connection at the heart of medicine. Titled "High Hopes for Deep Medicine? AI, Economics, and the Future of Care", the paper warns that economic and institutional forces will shape AI adoption in ways that prioritize efficiency over empathy.

Will AI really improve the doctor-patient relationship?

Proponents of what has been called “Deep Medicine” argue that AI can free physicians from repetitive tasks, giving them more time to build trust with patients. The study challenges this narrative by examining how healthcare institutions are likely to use the technology. According to the authors, the fundamental problem is not AI itself but the environment in which it will be deployed. Economic pressures, particularly in for-profit healthcare systems, push providers to maximize throughput rather than improve individual care. Even in public healthcare, efficiency drives are expected to use AI gains to treat more patients rather than extend consultations.

The authors argue that the reality of AI’s role in medicine will be dictated by measurable outcomes such as patient numbers, leaving less tangible but vital elements, like compassion and communication, at risk. This shift, they warn, would make healthcare more impersonal, undermining the very relationships that proponents claim AI will strengthen.

How will AI affect physicians and medical practice?

AI also poses challenges for healthcare workers. The study predicts that AI adoption will disrupt medical practice by reducing the value of traditional skills and shifting power away from physicians. As diagnostic algorithms and automated systems take on more decision-making, the professional autonomy of doctors could decline. This transition risks demoralizing clinicians, fragmenting their roles, and increasing reliance on non-physician staff or system administrators.

The research highlights that AI might not reduce doctors’ workloads as promised. Instead, it could introduce new layers of administrative work, as doctors are required to monitor, interpret, and validate AI outputs. Rather than freeing up time for patient care, these additional tasks may further constrain interactions. The study draws parallels to the introduction of electronic medical records, which were intended to streamline processes but ended up adding to physicians’ administrative burdens.

Moreover, the authors raise concerns about increased surveillance in the workplace. AI systems designed to monitor performance could place doctors under constant observation, reducing morale and autonomy at a time when healthcare professionals are already facing high levels of burnout. This combination of disruption, increased oversight, and diminished control could make it difficult for physicians to advocate for patient-centered uses of AI.

Will trust and care survive the AI transformation?

Trust is a cornerstone of medicine, but the study warns that AI threatens this foundation. As algorithms take over diagnostic and treatment decisions, patients may question whether their doctors are truly responsible for their care. The opacity of AI systems, often functioning as “black boxes”, makes it difficult to explain how decisions are reached. This lack of transparency can weaken patient confidence, especially if they suspect that machines, rather than human judgment, are driving their treatment plans.

The authors stress that care is not only about technical accuracy; it is also about the emotional and relational experience patients have with their providers. If AI reduces face-to-face interactions or shifts conversations toward data-driven checklists, patients may feel less cared for. Even if doctors continue to oversee AI systems, the extra time spent verifying data and reviewing automated outputs may take attention away from the human side of medicine.

The authors also highlight a paradox: while AI promises efficiency, it may actually demand more data entry and oversight, further entrenching screen time and reducing the scope for spontaneous, empathetic conversations. In the long run, this dynamic could erode both patient satisfaction and professional fulfillment among healthcare providers.

A cautionary outlook on the future of healthcare

According to the study, the optimistic vision of AI transforming medicine into a more human-centered practice is unlikely to materialize without systemic change. The authors argue that the challenges facing patient care today, economic constraints, efficiency mandates, and institutional priorities, will not disappear with new technology. Instead, these factors will dictate how AI is implemented, often to the detriment of meaningful doctor-patient relationships.

While acknowledging the potential of AI to improve diagnostic accuracy and operational efficiency, the researchers caution that these gains may come at the cost of care. They suggest that meaningful reform will require more than technological innovation; it will demand political and institutional commitments to prioritize patient relationships over throughput and profit.