FRONTLINE practitioners are fearful of public perceptions around AI implementation in healthcare settings, according to experts at the Health + AI Tech Show, which amassed a crowd of more than 1,000 specialists.1
The European Medical Journal lead an expert panel discussion that revealed, however, that AI applications in healthcare see, in fact, the most support among the public in the UK, respective to other sectors.
Comfort Levels Around Innovation
Speaking on the panel (chaired by Andrea Charles, Editorial Director, EMJ), Aleksandra Berditchevskaia, Principal Researcher, Centre for Collective Intelligence Design, Nesta, London, UK, said: “A key thing we’ve heard is that frontline practitioners are really worried about public reactions [to AI implementation], and there’s not a standardised way of having social assurance measures.”
She added: “What we see is that there’s initial reactions and potential for lots of backlash from the public because innovation happens at a pace that doesn’t’ match the comfort level around some of these products we put into place.”
Social Acceptance of AI Implementation in Healthcare Settings
In the UK, 41% of adults are more inclined to believe: “AI is dangerous and/or unproven technology and should not be used in the public sector”, according to data form Nesta.2
Alternatively, 29% think AI can have a transformative effect and should be widely adopted.2
Figures are compounded by fears surrounding the proper use of AI, with a mere 23% agreeing that public sector organisations will use AI responsibly.
However, Berditchevskaia highlighted: “When we tested different use cases with the public about what’s acceptable across the public sector when it comes to AI adoption, healthcare applications are the ones that do yield the most public support – people do see an opportunity there.”
In the NHS, public support for AI implementation hit 38% support, receiving low levels of opposition compared to other sectors, including policing, defence, and social care.2
Solutions
This comes amid physician concerns, voiced at the Health + AI Tech Show, that AI may increase workloads in some fields.
Addressing frictions in implementation and public perception, experts called for the robust integration of clinician opinion in the design and development of AI tools in healthcare.
Berditchevskaia said: “Design with the people who your tools are meant to support.
“The only way to understand if the tools can fit into an existing workflow is to map out that workflow and understand how clinicians make decisions”
References
1 Shadi S et al. When AI becomes noise: alert fatigue, workflow friction & decision safety. Panel discussion. Health + AI Tech Show, 29 April, 2026.
2 Nesta. Five essential 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: 1 May 2026.
Featured image: frank29052515 on Adobe Stock
