Disabled Britons have warned the incorporation of AI into healthcare could result in efficiency being prioritised over quality human support.
According to a survey of 2,000 UK adults from health tech consultancy nuom, around two-thirds of respondents with physical or mental disabilities expressed concern over the increased automation of care.
Among their other concerns was that advances in AI healthcare would exclude individuals less able to effectively use new technology.
Respondents also overwhelmingly agreed that any AI system made to support personal care should be developed with input from people with disabilities.
“The benefits of AI in healthcare are becoming more well known…but without inclusive design at its core, there’s a real risk that these technologies could widen the very inequalities they’re meant to help address,” said Martin Sandhu, managing partner at nuom.
“Done well, AI has the potential to improve accessibility, offer more personalised care, and support greater independence. But to get there, we need to build systems that work for everyone.”
These concerns effect a significant portion of Britain, which is home to around 16.1 million disabled adults, around a quarter of the total population.
The British government has been pushing public service providers, including the NHS, to increase use of AI technologies to handle intense demand and support the growing AI sector.
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