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AACE 2026: Will AI replace endocrinologists?

The same technology drawing patients away from clinic may also improve the patient-physician relationship.

April 22, 2026 By Jared Bilski 3 min read

At a Glance

Category	Detail
Condition	Endocrinology
Key Mechanisms	AI's role in patient self-diagnosis and clinician support.
Target Population	Patients with chronic conditions such as hypothyroidism and diabetes.
Care Setting	Outpatient clinics and specialty care.

Key Highlights

14 million clinic visits in the U.S. canceled due to AI use.
Patients prefer AI for faster, cheaper, and easier access to medical advice.
AI-generated misinformation complicates patient-clinician interactions.
AI tools can enhance patient-physician relationships when used thoughtfully.
Ambient documentation tools allow for improved clinician-patient engagement.

Guideline-Based Recommendations

Diagnosis

Clinicians should be aware of AI's influence on patient self-diagnosis.

Management

Utilize AI for in-basket messaging to enhance patient communication.

Monitoring & Follow-up

Implement pre-visit AI tools to gather patient data efficiently.

Risks

Address the challenges of misinformation from AI sources.

Patient & Prescribing Data

Patients with chronic endocrine disorders.

AI can assist in managing patient inquiries and treatment adherence.

Clinical Best Practices

Engage with AI developers to ensure safe and effective tools for patient care.
Focus on patient-centered communication using AI-generated responses.

References

AACE Annual Meeting 2026

AACE Endocrine AI is published by Conexiant under a license arrangement with the American Association of Clinical Endocrinology, Inc. (AACE^®). The ideas and opinions expressed in AACE Endocrine AI do not necessarily reflect those of Conexiant or AACE. For more information, see Policies.