Does ambient voice technology in healthcare really save time? The need for rigorous evaluation to test the promise
Abstract
Bold promises are currently being made for how artificial intelligence (AI) could transform healthcare. Examples include AI-enabled booking systems, retrieving and organising patient records, and increasingly, ambient voice technology (AVT). AVT systems (also called ‘digital scribes’ or ‘clinical AI scribes’) passively capture clinician–patient conversations and automatically generate clinical documentation. The rapid emergence of AVT suppliers, growth in professional interest and enthusiasm at policy level—as reflected in the UK government’s 10-Year Health Plan 1—is already driving fast adoption. Much of the uptake is based on promises of increased productivity and better patient and staff experience linked to freeing up professional time. Critical questions arise about whether AVT claims are well-founded.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare and Education
Healthcare Technology and Patient Monitoring
Mobile Health and mHealth Applications
Publication details
- Journal / source
- BMJ Digital Health & AI
- Publisher
- BMJ
- Volume
- 2
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- e000039–e000039
- Publication date
- 1 March 2026
- Language
- EN