AI Misconceptions: AI will replace physicians

Michael Blackman, M.D., MBA, chief medical officer of Greenway Health, joined Medical Economics live at the MGMA Leaders Conference 2025 in Orlando to discuss what he sees as one of the biggest myths about artificial intelligence (AI) in health care: that it will replace physicians.

“Will it change people’s jobs? In some cases, yes,” Blackman said. “But I think if you think about AI, it still needs human interaction and human support. If people give up critical thinking, that’s going to be a real problem.”

Instead of a threat, Blackman described AI as an “instant second opinion” that can help clinicians make better decisions and focus on patient care.

From ambient documentation that saves physicians hours each day to tools that reduce administrative burdens through billing and coding automation, he said the technology offers significant potential — as long as human judgment remains at the center of it all.