The majority of the UK does not trust AI to provide healthcare support, research has found, underscoring the challenge facing the government as it pushes for the sector to adopt automated solutions.
Less than a third (29%) of people in Britain would trust AI to provide basic healthcare advice, and just 15% would feel comfortable with an AI mental health support tool, according to a survey of 2,000 adults by health tech consultancy nuom.
Only half supported using the technology for administrative purposes such as appointment booking.
“The truth is, AI has a bit of a PR problem. To many, it still suggests images of impersonal robots, overly complex systems, or sci-fi hype,” said Martin Sandhu, managing partner at nuom.
“However, it’s not about replacing human care; it’s about enhancing it. Without clear communication, these benefits often get lost in the noise. As AI becomes more common in healthcare, building public trust will be important.”
The findings come as the government encourages the NHS to integrate AI into its practices to reduce the strain on its limited resources, part of a wider campaign for automation to support public services.
“We’ve already set out plans to transform the NHS App so patients can choose providers and book appointments, and we’re harnessing artificial intelligence to deliver faster and smarter care across the country,” said Health Secretary Wes Streeting during the unveiling of Humphrey – a suite of AI tools for the public sector.
Concerns from the public have not seemed to slow down the ambition from Westminster, nor has it stopped investors from backing AI-powered health techs including automated clinical management system Semble, which closed an £11.6m Series B last October.
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