OpenEvidence AI chatbot used by 65% of US doctors in 27M clinical encounters

A new NBC News report reveals that OpenEvidence, a free ad-supported AI chatbot, has been adopted by approximately 65% of U.S. doctors, handling nearly 27 million clinical encounters in April alone. The Miami-based startup, founded by billionaire David Nadler, boasts a $12 billion valuation and backing from Sequoia Capital, Andreessen Horowitz, Google Ventures, Thrive Capital, and Nvidia. Revenue currently comes from pharmaceutical and medical device ads. Doctors use the tool to diagnose unfamiliar conditions, with the AI providing detailed, cited responses. However, NBC found that most doctors only verify sources when results are unexpected, raising medical accuracy concerns.

Medical professionals have flagged occasional flubs on rare conditions and edge cases. Some worry about the lack of rigorous studies on patient outcomes and the potential for over-reliance to stunt intellectual growth in new graduates. One anonymous Missouri doctor noted students losing the ability to sort signals from noise. Despite these concerns, the tool correctly flagged intentionally dangerous doctor's notes as risky during testing. The widespread adoption highlights both the promise and peril of AI in high-stakes settings, leaving patients wondering if they can say no when their doctor pulls out this digital crutch.