AI Scribe Use Rises Among Australian GPs, New Poll Finds
12 Nov 2026
A recent newsGP poll of 1,114 respondents found that 49% use AI scribes in their practices, while 51% said they do not.
This is a significant increase from 22% in 2024 and 40% in 2025, showing steady growth in the use of AI tools across general practice.
RACGP President Dr Michael Wright said the growing numbers show that more GPs are becoming comfortable with the technology. However, he noted that some doctors remain cautious.
AI scribes have changed how some general practices manage consultation notes. At the same time, questions about their regulation and safety are receiving greater attention.
A recent Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) review found that eight of the 12 digital scribe products examined were likely to meet the definition of a medical device.
The review did not identify which findings applied to individual products. However, two commonly used tools among Australian GPs, Lyrebird and Heidi, were included in the sample.
None of the 12 products reviewed was registered as a medical device on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG).
Under current rules, software that produces clinical recommendations or conclusions may need to be regulated as a medical device.
The TGA said some digital scribes now do more than record and summarise consultations. Their advanced AI features can analyse patient information and produce clinical findings or recommendations that may affect decisions about diagnosis and treatment.
Early feedback from general practices has also been encouraging.
A pilot program involving 10 general practices in New South Wales reported that more than 80% of participating clinicians were happy with the technology.
Patient feedback was also mostly positive or neutral. The Primary Health Network involved in the program said the tools helped doctors spend less time typing and more time speaking with patients, while maintaining safety, privacy and clinical governance standards.
Dr Wright said the adoption of AI scribes could follow a similar pattern to the introduction of electronic health records, where use increased as the benefits became clearer.
He said more research is needed to understand how AI scribes affect consultations. While they could give doctors more time to focus on patients, there are also concerns about their possible impact on clinical skills and decision-making.
Better integration with existing clinical software could also encourage more GPs to use the technology.
Dr Wright added that clearer guidelines and improved continuing professional development (CPD) opportunities would help doctors understand how to use AI scribes safely and effectively.
The RACGP has published guidance on AI scribes and offers CPD courses to help GPs understand the use of artificial intelligence in clinical practice.
AI Scribe Use Rises Among Australian GPs, New Poll Finds
Source: newsGP (RACGP) – Almost half of GPs now using AI scribes as adoption climbs.