Artificial intelligence in primary care: innovation at a crossroads.

Abstract

Despite being a cornerstone of health-care delivery, primary care is increasingly under strain. The latest advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) offer new opportunities to transform primary care. However, the rapid deployment of AI ahead of robust real-world evaluation or regulation raises concerns about unintended consequences on the quality of care. We review applications of AI in primary care, covering AI to support primary care providers and people with their health. This Review considers the impact of AI applications on different domains of health-care quality-effectiveness, safety, timeliness, efficiency, patient-centred care, health-care provider experience, equity, and planetary health-and on the primary care-specific attributes of accessibility, comprehensiveness, coordination, and continuity. Implementation of AI in primary care benefits from careful consideration of these quality domains, a focus on universal design principles, digital determinants of health, and AI health literacy, and alignment with patient experiences and values, to support the transformation towards sustainable and high-quality AI-enabled primary care.