As Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools become increasingly integrated into clinical practice, their anthropomorphic features raise important questions about their role, reliability and implications for human-centred care. This discussion article examines the concept of anthropomorphic GenAI, highlighting how its human-like traits may influence trust, professional judgement and the dynamics of patient care. While such technologies can enhance efficiency and support clinical decision-making, their design often blurs the line between simulation and authentic human understanding. This paper identifies key gaps in the existing literature, particularly around emotional intelligence, ethical reasoning, specialisation-specific adoption and the long-term impact of AI on clinical practice and proposes a structured research agenda to guide future inquiry and responsible innovation. By drawing attention to the promises and pitfalls of anthropomorphic AI in healthcare, this discussion invites interdisciplinary reflection on how such systems should be designed, evaluated and integrated into healthcare and clinical contexts.
- Anthropomorphic generative artificial intelligence in healthcare
- Fatema Zaghloul (Corresponding Author)Haiat Perozzo (Author) - Università Carlo Cattaneo - LIUC, Research field: Management scienceAurelio Ravarini (Author) - Università Carlo Cattaneo - LIUC, Research field: Economics and statistics
- BMJ innovations
- 16/02/2026
- BMJ; London
- 2055-8074; 2055-642X
- Online
- English
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- Research field: Economics and statistics; Research field: Management science
- Journal article
- 991001127879905126