We see it in the numbers, and we hear it in conversations: many women in the healthcare sector are hesitant to adopt AI tools. We understand that. And that is precisely why we want to talk about it.

Something exciting is happening in the Norwegian healthcare system right now. Artificial intelligence is making its entry into clinics, doctor's offices, and hospitals across the country – and it's not about robots taking over your job. It's about tools that help you with what you're already doing, just faster and with less administration.

But here's something we've noticed, both at Medivox and in the industry in general: There's an imbalance in who adopts these tools. And we want to understand why – and do something about it.

The numbers tell a story

According to Deloitte's 2025 global survey, 50 % of men have used generative AI in the past year, compared to 37 % of women. In Norway, the gap is around 10 percentage points – among the smallest in Europe, but it is still there.

What's interesting is that the gap is shrinking rapidly. Women's use of generative AI has tripled in the past year, and the growth is significantly higher than among men. So, something is already happening. But we want it to happen even faster – and for no one to feel left out.

«I am unsure if it is safe.»

When we speak with healthcare professionals hesitant to try AI tools, we often hear the same thing: Is it safe? What happens to the data? Can I trust this?

And let's be honest – those are good questions. In fact, research from Harvard Business School and Stanford Social Innovation Review, among others, shows that women often ask more critical questions about new technology. Not because they are naturally skeptical, but because they conduct a more thorough risk assessment. That's a strength, not a weakness.

A 2025 Pew Research study shows that women are twice as likely as men to express concern rather than excitement about AI in everyday life. Similarly, the Carnegie Institution found that women have lower trust in AI systems generally. But – and this is important – research also shows that when women perceive an AI tool as safe, ethical, and useful, its use increases significantly.

And the numbers confirm this pattern in several ways. A Deloitte survey shows that women are more concerned about the ethics surrounding AI use than men, and are more likely to question whether it is right to use such tools. Philips’ global health index from 2025 reveals a trust gap in the healthcare sector as well: while 63 % of healthcare professionals are optimistic about AI, only 48 % of patients share that optimism – and the number is even lower among women over 45. In addition, a study by the Carnegie Institute shows that women have significantly lower general trust in AI systems than men – a gap that cuts across age, education, and geography.

This isn't just an international discussion. On EHiN 2025 – Norway's largest conference for digitalization in the healthcare sector – featured a dedicated session called «Invisible Needs, New Solutions,» which focused precisely on how technology can strengthen women's health. Ståle Sagabråten from the Norwegian Medical Association emphasized that solutions must be developed together with women to meet real needs. It was also pointed out that the data foundation many AI models are built upon is skewed – often trained on data from men – and that conscious efforts are needed to make AI better for everyone.

A report from CARE Norway and PA Consulting emphasizes the same point: There is a lack of awareness of gender bias among providers of AI solutions to the Norwegian healthcare sector, and the incentives for testing for biases are too weak.

But here's the most important finding of all: Research consistently shows that when women perceive an AI tool as safe, transparent, and useful, its usage increases significantly. Trust, therefore, is not a fixed point. It can be built.

What Medivox actually is (and isn't)

We know that the word «AI» can bring up many associations – chatbots that remember everything you write, systems that use your data for training, or tools that feel overwhelming and uncontrollable.

Medivox is something else.

We are a tool made specifically for healthcare, helping you generate letters, medical records, referrals, and patient letters. You are not writing freely to a chatbot that stores your conversations. You are using a system designed to support your clinical work – with patient safety and privacy at its core.

Think of it as an assistant that helps you with documentation, so you can spend more time on what matters most: your patients. By the way, we have written about How reduced documentation burden can counteract burnout among physicians – a topic that concerns many.

How We Protect Your Data – Specifically

We know that «we take privacy seriously» can sound like a platitude. So let us show you what that means in practice.

All data is pseudonymized. What does that mean? Simply put: Before your information is processed by the AI, all information that could directly identify the patient is removed. The patient's real first name is replaced with a fictional name from a predefined list. So instead of the AI seeing «Kari Nordmann, born 03/15/1985,» it sees, for example, «Frida» - without a social security number, without a last name, without a direct link to a real person.

Why is that good? Because even in the unlikely event that someone were to gain unauthorized access to the data, they would not be able to link the information to a specific patient. It's like sending a message in code – even if someone intercepts it, it won't make sense without the key. Would you like to know more about how pseudonymization works? Feel free to read our article. «Pseudonymization: A Key to Secure and Efficient Data Processing».

Recent research from Northeastern University showed that AI can crack traditionally pseudonymized data by linking seemingly innocuous details with publicly available information. Medivox's method is designed to withstand precisely these kinds of attacks – because the fictional names have never existed, there is no link to exploit. We have written more about this in «Are your patient records truly anonymized?».

All data processing occurs in Norwegian data centers. Your data never leaves Norway. It is not sent to servers in the USA, Asia, or anywhere else in the world. It is processed and stored on Norwegian soil, subject to Norwegian law and Norwegian privacy regulations. For many, this is a crucial security measure – and we understand that completely. Read more about how we work with security at «Safe Use of AI in Healthcare: Privacy in Focus».

It's about lowering the threshold

Research points to three main reasons why many hesitate to adopt AI:

Lack of knowledge. Nearly three-quarters of the gap in AI use can be explained by the fact that many simply don't know enough about what the tools do or how they work. It's not a knowledge problem – it's an information problem. And that's something we can do something about.

Privacy concerns. Especially in healthcare, where we work with sensitive information every day, it's natural to ask yourself: Where does my data go? Who has access? At Medivox, we take this seriously. The system is built for the Norwegian healthcare system, with the requirements that entails.

Uncertainty about what colleagues think. Some people feel that using AI can be seen as «cheating» or taking shortcuts. But using a tool that makes documentation more efficient isn't a shortcut – it's smart work. Just like using dictation, templates, or other aids you're already accustomed to.

Positive experiences exist - and there are many.

In the healthcare sector globally, we are already seeing AI make a difference where it's needed most. AI-powered solutions are improving the early detection of breast and cervical cancer. Wearable devices with AI monitor vital signs and predict risks during pregnancy. Personalized apps are helping women manage menopause, menstruation, and fertility in a completely new way.

In Norway, we are early adopters of technology in the healthcare sector. As was highlighted at EHiN: When digital solutions are developed based on real needs – and in collaboration with those who will actually use them – technology can provide women with better insight into their own health and greater opportunities to make active choices. Medivox is part of that movement – not as an experiment, but as a practical tool already used by healthcare professionals every day.

We invite you for a conversation

We don't want to tell you what to think about AI. We want to create a space where you can ask questions, share concerns, and experience for yourself what the tool can do for your workday.

Therefore, we are organizing a free webinar where we show how Medivox works in practice, answer questions about security and privacy, and let you see the system in action – without any obligations.

And if you want to try yourself? You can try Medivox completely free of charge. No contract period, no surprises. Just a tool designed to make your everyday life a little easier.

Sign up for the webinar – Sign up here

Try Medivox for free – Start your free trial

Do you have any questions or thoughts you'd like to share? We'd love to hear from you. Write to us or leave a comment – this conversation is as much yours as it is ours.

Sources:

• Deloitte (2025): Women and Generative AI: The Adoption Gap Is Closing Fast, But A Trust Gap Persists
• Harvard Business School Working Knowledge: Women Are Avoiding AI. Will Their Careers Suffer?
• Stanford Social Innovation Review The AI Gender Gap Paradox
• Pew Research Center (2025): Survey on Attitudes Toward AI
• Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (2025): The Gender Trust Gap in AI
• Philips Future Health Index (2025) Building Trust in Healthcare AI
• EHiN (2025): Technological light on neglected health Session «Invisible Needs, New Solutions»
• CARE Norway / PA Consulting Artificial intelligence, gender, and health