According to experts at the Health + AI Tech Show, which brought together more than 1,000 experts, FRONTLINE experts fear public perception of AI implementation in medical settings.1
However, an expert panel led by the European Medical Journal revealed that AI applications in healthcare actually have the highest support among the UK public compared to other fields.
Comfort levels centered around innovation
In a panel discussion (chaired by EMJ Editorial Director Andrea Charles), Alexandra Berdichevskaya, Principal Researcher at the Center for Collective Intelligence Design at Nesta, London, UK, said: [to AI implementation]And there is no standardized way to implement social security measures. ”
He added, “What we’re seeing is that there’s going to be early reaction and there’s going to be a lot of pushback from the public because innovation is happening at a pace that doesn’t match the comfort level of these products that we’ve introduced.”
Social acceptance of AI introduction in medical settings
According to data from Nesta, 41% of adults in the UK are more likely to think that AI is a dangerous or unproven technology and should not be used in the public sector.2
Alternatively, 29% believe AI has a transformative effect and should be widely adopted.2
This figure is further exacerbated by concerns surrounding the appropriate use of AI, with only 23% of public sector organizations agreeing to use AI responsibly.
However, Berditchevskaia emphasized: “When we tested different use cases with the public about what is acceptable across the public sector when it comes to deploying AI, the one with the most public support was healthcare applications. People think there is an opportunity there.”
In the NHS, public support for the introduction of AI reached 38%, but levels of opposition were lower than in other sectors such as police, defence, and social care.2
solution
This comes amid concerns expressed by doctors at the Health + AI Tech Show that AI could increase workload in some areas.
To address frictions in implementation and public perception, experts called for stronger integration of clinician input into the design and development of AI tools in healthcare.
Berditchevskaia said: “Design with the people your tools support.
“The only way to understand whether a tool can fit into an existing workflow is to plan that workflow and understand how clinicians make decisions.”
References
1 Shadi S et al. When AI becomes noise: Alert fatigue, workflow friction, and decision safety. Panel discussion. Health + AI Technology Show, April 29, 2026.
2 Nesta. 5 key insights for public sector managers on AI and public trust. 2025. Available at https://www.nesta.org.uk/blog/five-essential-insights-for-public-sector-managers-on-ai-and-public-trust/. Last accessed: May 1, 2026.
Featured image: Frank29052515 from Adobe Stock
