AI integration risks professional deskilling in medical fields

Philosopher Kaisa Kärki of the University of Helsinki warns of a phenomenon known as “deskilling,” where professionals such as doctors and programmers may lose core competencies due to over-reliance on artificial intelligence. Because large language models provide highly convincing and plausible responses, users often trust them more than is warranted, making the gradual erosion of skills difficult to detect.

A study published in The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology highlights this risk within the medical field. Research involving endoscopists in Poland demonstrated that when software designed to flag polyps was unavailable, the detection rate of adenomas—growths that can become cancerous—dropped significantly compared to periods when the AI assistance was active.