How Will Artificial Intelligence Affect Patient-Clinician Relationships?

Artificial intelligence (AI) could improve the efficiency and accuracy of health care delivery, but how will AI influence the patient-clinician relationship? While many suggest that AI might improve the patient-clinician relationship, various underlying assumptions will need to be addressed to bring these potential benefits to fruition. Will off-loading tedious work result in less time spent on administrative burden during patient visits? If so, will clinicians use this extra time to engage relationally with their patients? Moreover, given the desire and opportunity, will clinicians have the ability to engage in effective relationship building with their patients? In order for the best-case scenario to become a reality, clinicians and technology developers must recognize and address these assumptions during the development of AI and its implementation in health care.