What’s happened 

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is asking members of the public for their views on the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in health and care. 

The inquiry is being carried out through NICE Listens, a programme of public dialogue designed to bring moral, ethical and social considerations into NICE's work alongside its established evidence-based decision-making processes. 

During each dialogue, invited participants learn about a topic in depth from expert stakeholders representing different perspectives. They then discuss the issues before agreeing recommendations for NICE. 

The process is delivered by independent external organisations. 

Why is NICE Listens interested in AI? 

Previous research commissioned by the NHS AI Lab found optimism about the potential for AI tools to improve precision and reliability and provide more cost-effective solutions. 

But people also raised concerns about bias in data, security, the involvement of commercial organisations in developing AI technologies and the potential loss of human connection. 

NICE Listens will now explore these questions in greater depth. 

The findings will help NICE consider the role AI should play in its work and the principles it should follow when considering AI-enabled technologies. They will also inform how NICE communicates decisions involving AI and builds public confidence in them. 

Why this matters to members 

The 10 Year Health Plan for England sets out an ambition for the NHS to become the most AI-enabled care system in the world. 

AI-enabled technologies are already beginning to change parts of healthcare, with potential applications ranging from supporting diagnosis and clinical decision-making to reducing administrative workloads and freeing up clinicians' time. 

As these technologies develop, questions about how they are evaluated and introduced will increasingly affect healthcare professionals, including podiatrists. 

For the profession, keeping pace with AI is not simply about understanding what new technologies can do. It also means engaging with questions about clinical safety, evidence, professional accountability, patient data, bias and inequalities, and where human judgement and relationships remain essential. 

NICE's dialogue is therefore significant because it is exploring some of the principles that could influence how AI-enabled technologies are considered within health and care in the future. 

What happens next 

NICE has commissioned Ipsos to run the dialogue. 

Up to 54 members of the public will take part in four workshops, held in person and online in three locations across England between October and December 2026. 

The results are expected to be published around February 2027. 

Links and references 

NICE Listens