According to the American Psychological Association’s (APA) 2025 Practitioner Pulse Survey, more than half of psychologists have tried using Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools in their practice over the past year, although almost all of them express concern about the potential impact this technology could have on their patients and the public.
The APA’s September 2025 survey of 1,742 psychologists found that 56% of psychologists reported using AI tools at least once to improve their work in the past 12 months, a significant increase compared to 29% in 2024. About three-tenths (29%) of psychologists were using AI at least monthly.
Psychologists primarily use the technology to alleviate administrative burden. The most common uses are: writing emails and other materials (52%), generating content (33%), and summarizing clinical notes or articles (32%).
The deeper psychologists delve into AI, the clearer they see the potential risks. 92% of respondents expressed concern regarding the use of AI. The most frequently cited issues include: potential for data leakage (67%), unintended societal harm (64%), bias in input and output information (63%), lack of rigorous testing to mitigate risks (61%), and inaccurate output or “hallucinations” (60%).
APA CEO, Dr. Arthur C. Evans Jr., states that AI can ease the pressure faced by psychologists by increasing efficiency, but human oversight remains essential.
Although 38% of psychologists fear that AI will replace their job duties in the future, they rarely use this technology for complex clinical tasks. Only 8% of AI-using psychologists have employed it to assist with clinical diagnosis, and 5% have suggested patients use a chatbot. All this confirms that AI is currently viewed primarily as a supporting tool and not as a replacement for the specialist in the clinical decision-making process.
APA issues strict recommendations before using AI in clinical work. These include: obtaining informed consent from patients, evaluating AI tools for potential bias, checking compliance with confidentiality laws, and understanding how patient data is used, stored, or shared.
46% of psychologists say they do not have room for new patients, and 45% report that the severity of their patients’ symptoms is increasing, indicating that the mental health crisis remains acute.
