American Medical Association Clarifies AI's Role in Healthcare, Prohibits Licensure for Nonhuman Entities
The American Medical Association (AMA) has adopted a new policy clarifying that while artificial intelligence (AI) can assist physicians in healthcare, it cannot be granted physician licensure, professional titles, or certification to practice medicine. This policy, adopted at the 2026 AMA Interim Meeting, emphasizes that AI-enabled technologies should be integrated into physician-led teams and used under the direction of the treating physician. AMA President Willie Underwood III, MD, MSc, MPH, stated that patients deserve to know who is responsible for their care and that physicians require authority, oversight, and liability protections when AI is part of the care team. The policy also calls for model legislation to differentiate between the authorization of medical technology and professional licensure, and to prohibit misrepresenting nonhuman entities with titles reserved for physicians. Furthermore, the AMA will advocate for safeguards to prevent AI developers from using patients' clinical data for pr...
