Will AI replace Physicians, Pathologists?
AI can do 72% of the work Physicians, Pathologists do at least twice as fast. People already use it for 2 of their 19 tasks, while 9 more are ready but barely used so far. 8 still need a person.
AI is already doing this2 · 28% of time
People already use AI for these tasks in real work, based on Anthropic's analysis of how Claude is used.
- Examine microscopic samples to identify diseases or other abnormalities.Mostly automated24% of time
- Read current literature, talk with colleagues, or participate in professional organizations or conferences to keep abreast of developments in pathology.Mostly assisted5% of time
AI could do this next9 · 43% of time
AI can speed these up by at least half, but real use has not caught up yet. These are next in line.
- Write pathology reports summarizing analyses, results, and conclusions.14% of time
- Communicate pathologic findings to surgeons or other physicians.6% of time
- Manage medical laboratories.5% of time
- Analyze and interpret results from tests, such as microbial or parasite tests, urine analyses, hormonal assays, fine needle aspirations (FNAs), and polymerase chain reactions (PCRs).5% of time
- Consult with physicians about ordering and interpreting tests or providing treatments.4% of time
- Review cases by analyzing autopsies, laboratory findings, or case investigation reports.3% of time
- Identify the etiology, pathogenesis, morphological change, and clinical significance of diseases.3% of time
- Develop or adopt new tests or instruments to improve diagnosis of diseases.2% of time
- Conduct research and present scientific findings.2% of time
Still needs a person8 · 28% of time
No real AI use, no proven AI speedup and no robot that can do it yet. This is the part of the job to build on.
- Diagnose diseases or study medical conditions, using techniques such as gross pathology, histology, cytology, cytopathology, clinical chemistry, immunology, flow cytometry, or molecular biology.16% of time
- Educate physicians, students, and other personnel in medical laboratory professions, such as medical technology, cytotechnology, or histotechnology.3% of time
- Plan and supervise the work of the pathology staff, residents, or visiting pathologists.3% of time
- Perform autopsies to determine causes of deaths.2% of time
- Conduct genetic analyses of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) or chromosomes to diagnose small biopsies and cell samples.2% of time
- Testify in depositions or trials as an expert witness.1% of time
- Obtain specimens by performing procedures, such as biopsies or fine needle aspirations (FNAs) of superficial nodules.1% of time
- Diagnose infections, such as Hepatitis B and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), by conducting tests to detect the antibodies that patients' immune systems make to fight such infections.1% of time
Your week is not the average
Describe what you actually do and get a personal report: your own tasks, what AI can already do, what stays yours and a 90 day plan.
What this means
AI can do most of this work faster, but a real part of the job still needs a person. Real use is still behind at 25 out of 100, so the change here is only getting started. The people who learn which tasks to hand off will pull ahead.
What to do next
- Do the 2 tasks AI is already handling with AI yourself. Your peers already are, and it is quickly becoming the baseline.
- Get ahead on the 9 tasks AI could do next. These move as tools improve, so learning them early pays off.
- Build on the 8 tasks that stay human. This is where your judgment, skill and relationships matter most.
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