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NEW DELHI – A recent study published in The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology has raised concerns about the potential negative impact of frequent reliance on artificial intelligence (AI) in medicine. The research, conducted by a collaboration of European researchers, found that health professionals who consistently used AI to assist in colonoscopies showed a significant drop in their ability to independently detect benign tumor growths.
The study compared the performance of health professionals in over 1,400 colonoscopies, with some procedures conducted with AI assistance and others without. The findings revealed that after three months of relying on AI support, the detection rate of adenomas—a type of non-cancerous tumor—decreased by 20%, falling from 28.4% to 22.4% during non-AI-assisted procedures.
Marcin Romanczyk of the Academy of Silesia in Poland, one of the study’s authors, called the results “concerning,” noting that this is the first study to suggest a “negative impact of regular AI use on healthcare professionals’ ability to complete a patient-relevant task in medicine of any kind.” The findings temper the widespread enthusiasm for AI adoption in healthcare, highlighting a phenomenon referred to as “deskilling.”
Dr. Omer Ahmad from University College London, who was not involved in the research, noted in a related commentary that the study provides the “first real-world clinical evidence” of this deskilling phenomenon. While acknowledging the promise of AI to enhance clinical outcomes, Dr. Ahmad emphasized the need to “safeguard against the quiet erosion of fundamental skills” that are essential for high-quality patient care. Researchers are urging for more studies to be conducted across various medical fields to fully understand the long-term effects of AI integration on medical professionals’ skills.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult with a qualified healthcare professional for any health concerns or before making any decisions related to your health.
Reference: https://www.theweek.in/wire-updates/national/2025/08/13/lst3-research-ai-skills.html
