Adoption of medical artificial intelligence: an ethnographic study of the trust construc tion among hospital practitioners

Abstract

Some research suggests that existing technology acceptance theories must consider the affect elicited by the personalized nature of technology in addition to cognitive trust leading to adoption behavior. Beyond cognitive trust, emotional trust plays a crucial role in determining adoption intention for new technologies, such as medical artificial intelligence. Yet, research on medical AI primarily examines the resistance that hospital practitioners display toward algorithms, without explaining how these staff can cultivate a sense of trust in this technology. The objective of this study is to understand how hospital practitioners build their trust in medical artificial intelligence. A 24-month ethnographic study was conducted by a Ph.D. student in pharmacology at the University Health Research Center in Amiens, where hospital practitioners frequently use artificial intelligence in their work processes. This study demonstrates how the interaction of cognitive and affective elements leads to the development of trust in artificial intelligence, offering both theoretical and managerial contributions. The results provide a better understanding of hospital practitioners’ reluctance to adopt medical artificial intelligence and thus facilitate the adoption of the technology in this highly pragmatic context.