AI can help, but should doctors trust it blindly?

Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming a trusted assistant in healthcare, but a new study published in PLOS Digital Health suggests that even experienced doctors may find it difficult to question its advice. Researchers found that physicians often continued to rely on incorrect AI recommendations, even when later information clearly showed those suggestions had not helped patients recover.

The study involved more than 220 doctors who reviewed imaginary patient cases and received guidance labelled as AI-generated. Although they were later shown results that conflicted with the system’s recommendations, many still considered the technology dependable. In some situations, they even failed to recognise that a treatment offered no benefit at all.

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The findings do not suggest that AI should be abandoned. Instead, they highlight an important lesson: technology works best when paired with human judgement. Automated tools can support faster decisions and improve efficiency, but they should never replace questioning, observation and professional experience.

As hospitals increasingly introduce AI into everyday practice, experts say training should focus not only on using these systems but also on recognising when they may be wrong. The greatest promise of AI lies in collaboration, where doctors remain confident enough to challenge technology whenever the evidence points in a different direction.