Artificial intelligence and diagnosis in general practice

Summerton and Cansdale express insights on artificial intelligence (AI) and diagnosis in general practice. Within the populations that GPs care for, serious diseases and disorders are less prevalent and, generally, at an earlier stage in the development of symptoms than in other healthcare settings. However, the public, the media, and specialist colleagues want primary care clinicians to become much better diagnosticians. GPs are now expected to spot individuals with cancer earlier while also avoiding excessive testing or inappropriate onward referrals. Currently, there is growing interest in using AI to supplement, enhance, or even replace GP diagnostic intelligence. Advocates of AI have suggested that such technologies could improve diagnostic accuracy in addition to diagnostic efficiency. But others have argued that it will add yet another information burden during an already busy surgery. It might do very little to improve patient outcomes, GP stress levels, or healthcare finances.