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Doctors who rely on artificial intelligence (AI) may be unintentionally deskilling, according to a new study.
The study, published in The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology, suggests that the growing reliance on AI in medical procedures may diminish doctors' diagnostic skills.
Researchers found that endoscopists—physicians who perform colonoscopies—were significantly less effective at detecting precancerous polyps without AI assistance after becoming accustomed to using the technology.
In tests conducted across four endoscopy centers in Poland, experienced clinicians used AI to assist with polyp detection. Afterward, colonoscopies were alternately performed with or without AI.
Stock image: Composite depicting a professional using artificial intelligence.
Stock image: Composite depicting a professional using artificial intelligence.
Photo by Roman Shashko / Getty Images
Concerningly, the detection rate fell from 28.4% to 22.4%.
"We have to admit that we were not expecting to find out such a big difference in quality parameters of colonoscopy," Dr. Marcin Romańczyk of the Academy of Silesia, one of the lead study authors, told Newsweek in an email.
Why It Matters
Colonoscopies are a primary method for preventing colorectal cancer by identifying and removing adenomas.
AI systems designed to improve this process have shown promise in increasing the diagnostic rate in real time.
However, the study's findings could show that doctors who are overly reliant on AI tools might experience a deskilling effect in which clinicians gradually lose proficiency in recognizing polyps unaided.
"On one side, AI usage is becoming standard of care," Romańczyk told Newsweek. "On the other hand, we are aware that we can not correctly state how our behavior has been modified by its usage."
What to Know
The drop in performance was not attributed to fatigue or lack of training. According to the study, all participants were highly experienced, and AI was the only modifiable factor among them.
"I think that our findings, regardless of the fact that they were a surprise for us, can be explained by other uses of new technology," Romańczyk told Newsweek.
"I don't personally feel confident anymore traveling on my own without any software assistance to an exact spot in another city, even within my region, because I've got used to using online map systems.
"As we find that it can be reproduced on other examples, we find it crucial to investigate this field more broadly in the future."
What People Are Saying
In a commentary published alongside the study, University College London's Dr. Omer Ahmad wrote, "These findings temper the current enthusiasm for rapid adoption of AI-based technologies [...] and highlight the importance of carefully considering possible unintended clinical consequences."
What's Next
The authors of the study called for further research into how AI may influence the abilities of doctors in other fields.
They also stressed the need for solutions to prevent skill decay, including revised training protocols or limits on continuous AI use.
"In our opinion, usage of AI is inevitable, and we should do our best to be prepared as well as possible to achieve the best outcomes from AI assistance," Romańczyk concluded.
