Physicians demand share of AI productivity gains, Doximity finds

More than two-thirds of U.S. physicians now use artificial intelligence tools on a daily or weekly basis, and a significant portion believe they should be compensated when those tools make them more productive, according to new research from health technology company Doximity.

The survey, which drew from more than 250,000 compensation responses collected over seven years—including nearly 23,000 physicians surveyed in the most recent year—found that 42% of doctors think physicians should be the primary beneficiaries if AI enables them to complete more clinical work in the same timeframe.

More than a third of respondents said their compensation for a service should change if AI substantially reduces the time or effort required. However, physicians remain divided: 43% said compensation should stay unchanged regardless of AI's impact on their workflow.

Why it matters

As healthcare organizations invest heavily in AI to address workforce shortages and administrative burden, the question of who captures the economic value becomes critical. If productivity gains flow entirely to health systems while physician workloads increase, the technology could exacerbate burnout rather than relieve it. The industry lacks consensus on measuring AI's return on investment, making it difficult to justify adoption costs or determine fair distribution of benefits.

Adoption patterns and productivity pressure

AI use is particularly strong among non-surgical specialists and younger physicians, who are more likely to report that the technology reduces their workload. One-fifth of survey respondents said they already face higher productivity expectations because of AI capabilities, while 42% expressed concern that such pressure will increase in the future.

Only 17% of physicians surveyed said AI-driven savings should translate to lower costs for patients, while 20% favored sharing the benefits more broadly.

Career and compensation implications

Nearly a quarter of doctors expect AI proficiency to boost their compensation within the next year. Thirty-nine percent reported that AI skills are already factoring into hiring decisions within their specialty.

Despite these shifts, the vast majority of physicians do not view AI as a threat to job security. Average physician pay increased 2% in the most recent year, down from 3.7% growth the previous year, representing sustained moderate growth across the profession.

Surgical specialties including neurosurgery and thoracic surgery commanded the highest average annual compensation, while pediatric and primary care specialties saw the lowest pay.

Unresolved questions

The healthcare industry has not yet established standard methods for measuring AI's return on investment, according to experts cited in the research. This gap complicates efforts to justify AI expenses and determine how benefits should be distributed among stakeholders.

The findings were first reported by Healthcare Dive, based on Doximity's comprehensive physician compensation survey released in August 2026.