Artificial intelligence (AI) will likely transform many aspects of healthcare, and physicians will need to adapt and lead. The expanding range of AI tools calls for physicians to become competent in their proper use if we are to achieve better patient experience, population health and health equity, and with greater efficiency, while enhancing physician satisfaction. This viewpoint proposes a practical and manageable set of core competencies for physicians in using AI tools effectively and ethically and suggests methods for acquiring these competencies.