  The potential for machine learning to disrupt the medical profession is the
subject of ongoing debate within biomedical informatics. This study aimed to
explore psychiatrists' opinions about the potential impact of innovations in
artificial intelligence and machine learning on psychiatric practice. In Spring
2019, we conducted a web-based survey of 791 psychiatrists from 22 countries
worldwide. The survey measured opinions about the likelihood future technology
would fully replace physicians in performing ten key psychiatric tasks. This
study involved qualitative descriptive analysis of written response to three
open-ended questions in the survey. Comments were classified into four major
categories in relation to the impact of future technology on
patient-psychiatric interactions, the quality of patient medical care, the
profession of psychiatry, and health systems. Overwhelmingly, psychiatrists
were skeptical that technology could fully replace human empathy. Many
predicted that 'man and machine' would increasingly collaborate in undertaking
clinical decisions, with mixed opinions about the benefits and harms of such an
arrangement. Participants were optimistic that technology might improve
efficiencies and access to care, and reduce costs. Ethical and regulatory
considerations received limited attention. This study presents timely
information of psychiatrists' view about the scope of artificial intelligence
and machine learning on psychiatric practice. Psychiatrists expressed divergent
views about the value and impact of future technology with worrying omissions
about practice guidelines, and ethical and regulatory issues.
