Yes, but mostly as a helper to a radiologist, not on its own. The FDA's list of authorized AI medical devices has about 1,600 entries, and about 3 in 4 are radiology tools that work with medical images. Pasting your X-ray or MRI into a general chatbot is different: those chatbots are not on the FDA list, and studies find they often miss the problem and sometimes describe findings that are not there. A safer use of AI is to help you understand the written report a radiologist already signed.
How much radiology AI has the FDA authorized?
The FDA keeps a public list of AI-enabled medical devices that have met its premarket requirements. In the version current as of 09/04/2026, the list had 1,614 entries, and 1,230 of them, about 76%, had radiology as the lead review panel.
The FDA also says the list is not a complete record of every AI device, and that it is exploring ways to tag devices that use large language models. So treat the numbers as a strong signal, not an exact count.
- Radiology leads by far: 1,230 of 1,614 entries.
- Next largest: cardiovascular (154) and neurology (73).
- What these tools do: they are built for specific jobs, such as spotting or outlining certain findings on images, and a radiologist reviews the results.
Does AI replace the radiologist who reads my scan?
No. A radiologist, a doctor trained to interpret medical images, still reads your exam and writes the report for the clinician who ordered it. AI tools help with that work, for example by detecting specific findings on images or drafting a preliminary report for the radiologist to review before signing.
Radiologists themselves are split on how far this can go. After a 2025 RSNA debate on chest X-rays, an informal poll of RSNA Daily Bulletin readers found 68.4% agreed that current AI is not accurate or reliable enough to read chest X-rays on its own. In one study cited in that debate, thoracic radiologists accepted 64% of over 1,500 AI-drafted chest X-ray reports without changes, so they edited the rest. RSNA's summary: AI makes a strong co-pilot, but it is not yet ready to fly solo.
Can I upload my X-ray or MRI to a chatbot?
You can, but you should not rely on what it says. General-purpose chatbots do not appear on the FDA's AI device list, so there is no sign the FDA has reviewed any of them for reading medical images. Research so far shows why that matters.
- Emergency room images: in a 2024 European Radiology study of 230 ER images, GPT-4V always named the type of scan correctly, but found the right problem only 35.2% of the time. Accuracy was 66.7% on X-rays, 36.4% on CT, and 9.1% on ultrasound.
- Brain and spine cases: in a 2025 npj Digital Medicine study, neuroradiologists got the most likely diagnosis right 86.2% of the time. The best of 5 AI models reached 35%. Up to 45% of the models' answers were rated potentially harmful, most often because they could delay treatment.
- Made-up findings: in the same study, the models often mixed up right and left or the part of the brain involved, and sometimes described findings that were not in the image.
Why is reading my scan hard for a chatbot?
Tools on the FDA list have met the agency's premarket requirements for a specific intended use. A chatbot has not been through that review for reading images, so the FDA has not checked how often it is right on scans like yours.
In the brain and spine study, each case had only 1 to 4 images picked by a neuroradiologist to show the problem, plus a short case summary. Even with that help, results were poor. A full CT or MRI usually has far more images, and a chatbot only sees what you upload. Both studies tested models that are now older, and the authors of both concluded the models were not ready to be relied on for reading scans.
When should you get care?
In an emergency, call 911Contact the clinician who ordered your scan the same day if your symptoms get worse while you wait for results, or if your report mentions a finding that worries you and no one has explained it. If you cannot reach them, use urgent care or a nurse line.
Call 911 for trouble breathing, chest pain or discomfort lasting 2 minutes or more, sudden dizziness, weakness, or change in vision, inability to speak, fainting, coughing up or vomiting blood, severe belly pain, or bleeding that will not stop. Do not wait for a report or a chatbot to tell you it is serious.
How our AI doctor decides when to send you to care ›How can AI help me understand my imaging report?
This is a different task from reading the images. You may see your radiology report in your portal before your doctor has seen it. RadiologyInfo, a patient site run by radiology groups, notes the report is written for your doctor, so the medical terms can be confusing. Using AI to put a signed report into plain words is not the same as asking it to read the images, because the radiologist has already done the reading. Still check what it tells you with your clinician.
Start with the Impression section. It sums up the key findings and possible causes, and RadiologyInfo calls it the most important part of the report for you and your doctor. Words like 'normal' or 'unremarkable' mean nothing concerning was seen. Many incidental findings cause no harm, but ask your ordering clinician about any you see.
- Ask: what does the impression mean for me, in plain words?
- Ask: is any incidental finding something to follow up?
- Ask: do I need another test, and what would it look for?
- Ask: can I talk to the radiologist? RadiologyInfo says many radiologists are happy to answer questions.
Common questions
Can AI read X-rays, CT scans, and MRIs?
Yes, as a helper. The FDA's AI device list has about 1,600 entries, and about 76% are radiology tools. A radiologist still interprets the images and signs the report. General chatbots are not on the FDA list for reading images.
Was AI used on my scan?
It may have been, since radiology has more tools on the FDA's AI device list than any other field. If you want to know, ask the imaging center or your ordering clinician.
Is ChatGPT or another chatbot accurate at reading my X-ray?
Studies so far say no. In one study of emergency room images, GPT-4V found the right problem 35.2% of the time. In another on brain and spine cases, the best model was right 35% of the time versus 86.2% for neuroradiologists. Both studies tested models that are now older.
Can AI explain my radiology report?
It can help you understand the words a radiologist already wrote, especially the Impression section. Use it to prepare questions, then confirm what the findings mean for you with your ordering clinician.
Will AI replace radiologists?
Not today. In an informal poll after a 2025 RSNA debate, 68.4% of respondents agreed AI is not reliable enough to read chest X-rays on its own. Current tools are built to assist the radiologist, who stays responsible for the report.
Pymander is not a replacement for a physician and does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with questions about a medical condition. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call 911.