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What are the implications of AI?
As with the integration of any new technology into a practice, the ethical, legal and practical implications of AI must be considered.
AI tools should support, not replace, veterinary expertise. In the longer term, overly trusting or relying on such tools risks undermining clinical judgement and reducing the skill set and experience of practitioners.
AI systems rely on datasets that may be inaccurate, outdated or skewed. Therefore, information provided by AI tools such as the large language models ChatGPT, Gemini [ 3 ] and Claude [ 4 ], among others, should always be verified against trusted sources before being applied in practice or passed on to colleagues or clients.
Some clients may be wary of AI technology influencing decisions about their pet ' s health. Practitioners must balance innovation with empathy and clear communication to maintain trust. Practitioners themselves may also hesitate to rely on AI, valuing their own clinical judgement over machine-assisted insights.
AI cannot replace the expertise, empathy and intuition that veterinary professionals bring to their work. Instead, it should be embraced as a supportive tool that enhances, rather than replaces, human decision-making.
Additionally, heavy reliance on digital systems may increase vulnerability to data breaches and cyber attacks. For example, AI could enable malicious actors to create more sophisticated, effective and evasive attacks at an unprecedented speed and scale.
Considerations before using AI
Before using AI at work, you should consult with your line manager and ensure that you are not in breach of your company ' s policy on the use of AI. You should also ensure that the use of AI for the intended purpose does not breach the RCVS Code of Professional Conduct for Veterinary Nurses [ 5 ].
REFERENCES
1 IBM. What is artificial intelligence( AI)? Available from: https:// www. ibm. com / think / topics / artificial-intelligence [ Accessed 3 October 2025 ].
2 Open AI. ChatGPT. Available from: https:// chatgpt. com [ Accessed 3 October 2025 ].
3 Google. Gemini. Available from: https:// gemini. google. com [ Accessed 3 October 2025 ].
4 Anthropic. Claude. Available from: https:// claude. ai [ Accessed 3 October 2025 ].
5 RCVS. Code of Professional Conduct for Veterinary Nurses. https:// www. rcvs. org. uk / setting-standards / advice-and-guidance / code-ofprofessional-conduct-for-veterinary-nurses / [ Accessed 3 October 2025 ].
What do you think about the use of AI in veterinary practice? Let us know via the link below( available only in the digital edition).
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Future legislation is likely to focus on practical areas, such as data security, accountability for AI-assisted diagnoses and clear professional standards. These safeguards will help ensure that AI use remains safe, transparent and in the best interests of patients and clients.
Risks of AI at a glance
• Can introduce errors and inaccuracies
• Could reduce human problem-solving skills
• People could come to overly rely on it
• May compromise cybersecurity
• Not always trusted by clients or practitioners
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