12 AI in healthcare statistics from the 2026 Future Health Index

Not a day goes by without dozens of new headlines popping up about the promise of AI in healthcare. But how are clinicians and patients actually using AI, and what difference is it making in their daily lives?

We compiled 12 AI in healthcare statistics from the 2026 Philips Future Health Index global report, the largest global survey of its kind analyzing the perspectives of over 2,000 healthcare professionals and 20,000 patients across 10 countries.

Here’s what the data shows.

1. 65% of clinicians used AI more often in the past year

AI adoption keeps growing within healthcare organizations. Nearly two-thirds of clinicians in the 2026 Future Health Index say they used employer-provided AI tools more often over the past year. They are using AI applications for a wide range of purposes, from administrative tasks such as transcribing clinical notes and scheduling patients to clinical decision support.

2. 71% of clinicians report improved workflow efficiency with AI

Clinicians report practical benefits from using AI in care delivery, with workflow efficiency the most commonly cited. Seventy-one percent say AI has made their workflow more efficient. In daily practice, this might include speeding up diagnostic exams and image processing or reducing routine documentation time.

5. 50% of clinicians say AI has increased their capacity to see more patients

Time gains from using AI may also create room for care teams to treat more people. Half of clinicians say it has increased their capacity to see patients. Among those reporting increased capacity, the median gain is eight additional patients per week. For patients, that could mean getting an appointment sooner.

6. 83% of clinicians are optimistic AI could improve patient outcomes

Clinicians also see AI as a way to deliver better care and not just to save time or see more patients. More than 8 in 10 say they are optimistic that AI can improve patient outcomes. In oncology, for example, AI can help spot signs of cancer earlier and support diagnostic decision-making, giving care teams more time to act [1]. 

7. 64% of clinicians use personal AI tools when workplace tools do not meet their needs

Nearly two-thirds of healthcare professionals (64%) turn to personal AI tools when workplace options don’t meet their needs. This suggests that clinician demand for AI is moving quickly – sometimes faster than organizations can respond – as healthcare professionals actively explore how AI can support them.

8. 70% of clinicians say AI training is unavailable, limited or inconsistent

The same gap is apparent in the training organizations provide. Clinicians need support to use AI well, yet 70% say the AI training available at their organization is unavailable, limited or inconsistent. Expanding structured, role-specific training can help clinicians develop the skills and judgment to work effectively with AI.

9. 90% of clinicians say keeping a human in the loop is essential

Clinicians are clear about who should make the final call in clinical decision-making. Ninety percent say it is essential to keep a human in the loop as healthcare AI advances. AI may surface information or support a decision, but clinicians remain responsible for assessing it in the context of the individual patient.

10. 60% of patients say generative AI helped them recognize when they need to see a doctor

Patients are turning to generative AI for help with their own health questions too. Six in ten say it has helped them recognize when they need to see a doctor. For someone unsure whether a symptom warrants an appointment, using AI chatbots might be a useful first step towards getting professional advice.

11. 69% of clinicians say they have had to correct AI-generated misinformation brought to them by patients

While AI may help prompt someone to seek professional advice when it’s needed, it can also give them information that is inaccurate or poorly suited to their situation. Sixty-nine percent of clinicians say they have had to correct AI-generated misinformation brought to them by patients – pointing to a new role for clinicians in explaining how AI-generated information may or may not apply to the patient.

12. 89% of patients say they should be told when AI is used in their care

As AI becomes more involved in care, patients want to know when the technology is being used. Nearly nine in ten say they should be told when AI is used in their care. This suggests that for patients, knowing where AI is involved can help build the trust that is ultimately needed for AI to become a natural and widely accepted part of healthcare.

For more statistics on AI in healthcare and recommendations for how to act on them, download the 2026 Philips Future Health Index global report.

References:

[1] Li, J., Zhang, L., Yu, Z. et al. The impact of AI on modern oncology from early detection to personalized cancer treatment. npj Precis. Onc. 10, 69 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41698-026-01276-6