Barriers and opportunities of scaling ambient AI scribes for clinical documentation across diverse healthcare settings

Ambient AI scribes are reshaping clinical documentation and clinician-patient interactions. These tools were initially tested in low-acuity ambulatory settings. However, their deployment in diverse care settings raises new challenges. This perspective examines the clinical, technical, and ethical implications of ambient AI scribes in diverse settings. With thoughtful integration, ambient AI scribes can evolve into valuable assistive tools to clinicians. Responsible use of these tools can improve interactions with patients, enhance safety, reduce clinician burden, and improve care continuity.