Epic Enters AI Scribe Market With Major Launch Set to Shake Up Health Care Tech

Epic’s entry into the artificial intelligence (AI) scribe market marks a pivotal moment in health care technology, signaling both validation of ambient documentation and intensifying competition among startups and tech giants, according to an article in Fierce Healthcare.

The electronic health record (EHR) leader officially kicked off its annual Users Group Meeting in Verona, Wisconsin, where it is expected to unveil its own AI-powered clinical documentation tool. With 42% of US hospitals running on Epic, the move could reshape adoption and pricing in this fast-growing segment.

The announcement comes amid a surge of investment in ambient AI, which has emerged as health care’s most promising AI use case. Venture capital firms have already poured nearly $1 billion into startups like Abridge, Suki, and Ambience Healthcare in 2025 alone. Microsoft-owned Nuance remains a dominant player, and competitors like athenahealth, Oracle Health, and Elation Health have already rolled out AI-enabled assistants. Epic, traditionally a cautious mover, has instead observed its partner ecosystem to learn what works, collaborating with Abridge, Microsoft’s DAX, and Ambience. Industry analysts suggest its late entry is strategic, leveraging massive scale and pricing power. Rumors place its AI scribe at just $80 per provider per month, well below most rivals.

Early adoption of ambient AI scribes has been mixed. A recent Medical Group Management Association survey found 71% of practices use AI during patient visits, but only 39% saw workload reductions, citing added complexity and implementation challenges. Still, demand for more efficient workflows remains high. Observers note Epic’s arrival could mark the “end of the transcription wars,” with competitors expanding beyond scribing into revenue cycle, coding, and prior authorization solutions. In fact, Abridge announced a partnership with Highmark Health to co-develop an AI-powered prior authorization tool, while Suki emphasized its broader AI platform that extends across dictation, patient summaries, and coding.

Epic’s vast reach means its new tool will likely be adopted broadly, even if startups continue to differentiate on depth and accuracy. Some executives warn that Microsoft, with its Dragon Copilot and deep ties to Nuance, may be Epic’s bigger long-term threat.

"My hope is that ultimately ambient scribing is available to 100% of the providers in the country. To the extent that Abridge and Ambience and Epic all help achieve that vision, that's amazing," said Punit Soni, CEO and founder of Suki. "At the end of the day, it comes down to, there will be folks who want a higher level of accuracy on coding. There might be folks who don't need it and they just want the scribe. I think this universe allows people to have a choice in which way they want to go," he continued.

Reference

Landi H. How Epic’s AI moves could shake up the healthcare AI market. Fierce Healthcare. Published August 18, 2025. Accessed September 19, 2025. https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/ai-and-machine-learning/how-epics-ai-moves-could-shake-health-tech-market