A study by University of Edinburgh researchers warns that AI "scribe" tools, now used by roughly four in ten GPs to transcribe and summarise appointments, may miss crucial non-verbal cues such as gestures, facial expressions and tone, potentially putting patients at risk. The technology, designed to reduce paperwork and let doctors focus more on patients, could also cause patients to withhold sensitive information and lead to "deskilling" among clinicians who have fewer opportunities to practise their own note-taking and reasoning skills.

The review, published in BMJ Digital Health and AI, examined 27 existing studies and found AI summaries tend to prioritise clinical detail over patients' personal accounts of their illness, particularly disadvantaging marginalised groups. Researchers cautioned that patients may alter their behaviour when aware AI is listening, reducing disclosure of issues like substance abuse, domestic violence or mental health struggles, while some doctors reported not recognising AI-generated notes or struggling to recall patients later. NHS England has urged rapid rollout of the technology but requires clinicians to review notes and obtain patient consent; Medical Protection welcomed the tools' potential to ease administrative burdens while acknowledging the risks the review raises.