<br />The healthcare sector is witnessing a radical transformation in the traditional doctor–patient relationship due to the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence technologies. In the past, diagnosis relied almost entirely on the physician’s clinical expertise, while the patient received information in a one-way direction. However, the spread of smart applications and digital platforms powered by deep learning algorithms has shifted this balance; patients can now access tools for analyzing radiology images, interpreting laboratory test results, and even predicting disease probability based on personal data.<br />This phenomenon has led to patients entering consultation rooms carrying a “preliminary diagnosis” produced by an AI algorithm. On the positive side, this allows patients to have greater awareness of their health condition and increases their involvement in treatment decision-making. Recent studies have shown that patients who use AI-based early diagnostic tools tend to interact more positively with physicians, as they feel like active participants rather than passive recipients.<br />On the other hand, this situation creates new challenges for the doctor–patient relationship. Conflicts of trust may arise if AI results contradict the physician’s clinical diagnosis. Here, the importance of what is known as “interpretive medical knowledge” emerges — that is, the doctor’s ability to explain the rationale behind clinical decisions and compare them with AI outputs.<br />Perhaps the greatest challenge lies in the risk of over-reliance on smart systems. Studies in some medical centers have indicated that uncontrolled use of these tools may weaken doctors’ motivation to sharpen their fine clinical skills. Therefore, the optimal solution lies in an integrative model, where AI is used as a supportive tool in diagnosis, not as a replacement for the physician.<br />From an ethical and legal perspective, healthcare institutions need to establish protocols that regulate the use of such tools, ensuring that the final medical decision remains in the doctor’s hands, while affirming the patient’s right to knowledge and participation.<br />In conclusion, patients entering clinics armed with AI diagnoses represent an opportunity to enhance transparency and health education. At the same time, it imposes greater responsibility on physicians to adopt advanced interpretive and communication skills, ensuring the preservation of the human relationship that remains at the core of medical practice.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Al-Mustaqbal University is the first one university in Iraq.<br />