There is limited knowledge about how patients experience artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare. Concerns regarding safety and quality could be a barrier between patients and the healthcare system when implementing AI. It is crucial to understand patients´ attitudes, and how they may react to AI being implemented when aiming to preserve their trust. We investigated patients’ attitudes toward AI-assisted colonoscopy to gain insights that can be used when introducing this new technology to future patients.

This is a qualitative study based on semi-structured focus group interviews. Habile, Danish-speaking adults who had received an AI-assisted colonoscopy were invited. We conducted six focus group interviews, with 20 participants in total. All interviews were recorded and transcribed. Data was analysed using thematic analysis.

Patients described a sense of vulnerability in relation to undergoing a colonoscopy. Within this context four main themes were identified. The first theme is “Machine over man - concerns about the potential consequences of AI use during colonoscopy”. The second theme is “Empathy and professionalism - Trust in AI assistance depends on human factors”, and the third and fourth are “Information about AI should be proportional to the consequences” and “Trying to make sense of AI during colonoscopy – balancing curiosity, irrelevance, and vulnerability”.

Trust in AI-assistance is dependent of the healthcare providers. While AI has many strengths, it cannot provide empathy, which patients need in distressing moments, such as during a colonoscopy. If written information about AI is provided, it should be informative but concise, avoiding details that generate more confusion than clarity.