ARTIFICIAL intelligence (AI) is increasingly being explored as a tool to support doctors in their daily work. In the UK, successive governments have tried to improve access to general practice and the working lives of GPs through technology, staffing, and administrative reforms. Now, AI is emerging as a potential solution to streamline workloads and help doctors focus on patient care.
Current Use of AI Among GPs
A recent nationwide study, part of the Royal College of General Practitioners’ annual GP Voice Survey, explored how UK GPs are using AI in their practice. Among 2,108 respondents, 28% reported using AI tools, either provided by their practice, obtained independently, or a combination of both. AI is currently used for tasks such as transcribing patient consultations, managing clinical documentation, responding to patient queries, and even identifying serious conditions from images.
Adoption varies across the workforce. Male GPs were more likely to use AI than female GPs, and younger doctors were more likely to use self-obtained AI tools. GPs in more affluent areas and in England and Wales also reported higher usage compared with those in Northern Ireland, Scotland, or socioeconomically deprived regions.
Benefits and Barriers
The main advantage cited by GPs was time savings. AI helps reduce administrative burdens, allowing doctors to focus on complex clinical reasoning or personal well-being, often cutting overtime and preventing burnout. However, concerns remain. Most GPs highlighted professional liability, lack of regulatory oversight, risks of clinical errors, and patient data security as key barriers. Local policies differ widely, with some Integrated Care Boards actively encouraging AI trials while others restrict use entirely.
Looking Ahead: What GPs Want from AI
GPs want AI tools that reliably handle routine, time-consuming tasks without replacing human judgment. They emphasised the need for AI to integrate seamlessly with existing patient record systems, be developed collaboratively with clinicians, and include safeguards against errors and misleading outputs. National guidance, structured training, and regulatory clarity are essential for safe and effective adoption.
While policymakers hope AI will free up doctors to see more patients, most GPs currently use the extra time for self-care. This underscores that AI’s impact on patient access may be slower than anticipated, but its potential to improve GP working lives and reduce burnout is clear.
Reference
Nuffield Trust. How are GPs using AI? Insights from the front line. 2025. Available at: https://www.nuffieldtrust.org.uk/research/how-are-gps-using-ai-insights-from-the-front-line. Last accessed: 04 December 2025.
