Public openness to AI in healthcare is declining even as more Americans turn to the technology to make medical decisions, an April 7 survey from The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center found.
The survey, conducted by SSRS on its Opinion Panel Omnibus platform, included a national sample of 1,007 adults from Jan. 16 to Jan. 20, 2026.
Here are four key findings from the survey:
- Forty-two percent of respondents are open to AI being used as part of their care, down from 52% when the survey was first conducted in 2024.
- Belief in AI’s ability to improve efficiency in healthcare also dropped, from 64% to 55%.
- At the same time, the survey found growing reliance on AI tools for personal health decisions. About 51% of adults reported using AI to make an important health decision without consulting a healthcare professional.
- The survey also examined how Americans are using AI in health-related situations. About 62% said they use it to understand symptoms before deciding whether to seek care, while 44% use it to help explain test results or diagnoses. Smaller shares reported using AI to compare treatment options (25%) or prepare for medical appointments (20%).
The survey results suggest that while AI adoption in healthcare continues to grow, public trust and expectations are evolving as users gain more experience with the technology.
