![The scene is a patient-doctor role-play. Medical educators try to teach doctors effective and compassionate communication.](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b3e350a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2550x3699+0+0/resize/1200x1741!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F0f%2Fc3%2Fce7a303646228868671910659f12%2F231112-oe-gray-ai-empathy-2.jpg)
![Medicine taught many doctors how to turn off our empathy switches for procedural effectiveness, efficiency or survival.](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/a34c69d/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2550x3699+0+0/resize/1200x1741!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F8e%2Ff6%2F2cd898ce4c60ba999bcfffccca0a%2F231112-oe-gray-ai-empathy-3.jpg)
![Sometimes we need to flip the switch off. But when we forget how to turn it back on, we struggle to connect with patients.](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/1cc1d7d/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2550x3699+0+0/resize/1200x1741!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F2b%2F9b%2Feead97004fca93edb13653bc73ae%2F231112-oe-gray-ai-empathy-4.jpg)
![I wasn't surprised to hear that AI system ChatGPT recently bested us in a test of empathetic communication.](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/6be4763/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2550x3699+0+0/resize/1200x1741!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F85%2Ff0%2F4646227f40d98f842b172592535f%2F231112-oe-gray-ai-empathy-5.jpg)
![When nearly 63% of doctors report signs of burnout, consistently feeling emotional connection with patients seems unlikely.](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/e67eb1a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2550x3699+0+0/resize/1200x1741!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fc3%2F2a%2F74c7733b48e0bd22becebf2bdead%2F231112-oe-gray-ai-empathy-6.jpg)
![But if the real purpose of empathy is to alert us to a person in need, then I welcome the help of AI or anything that helps.](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/7fee778/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2550x3699+0+0/resize/1200x1741!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F9e%2F96%2Fc7aedabe44d1bf9572b666e73f0a%2F231112-oe-gray-ai-empathy-7.jpg)
![Maybe AI can help me find the right words or open my eyes to a diagnosis. Ultimately it can't replace human presence.](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/2bc0068/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2550x3699+0+0/resize/1200x1741!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F71%2Fa4%2F3bac345e4f46b0543d7eb3069bcd%2F231112-oe-gray-ai-empathy-8.jpg)
![A list of sources with an illustration of code and emojis under it](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/769faf4/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2550x3699+0+0/resize/1200x1741!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fbb%2Ffb%2F9525de224358be74b0ed7940ed90%2F231112-oe-gray-ai-empathy-9.jpg)
Nathan Gray is an assistant professor of medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and an artist who draws comics on medical topics. @NathanAGray
Nathan Gray is an assistant professor of medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and an artist who draws comics on medical topics. @NathanAGray