AI Surge: One in Four Americans Seek Health Guidance from Chatbots Over Doctors
Recent studies indicate a growing trend among Americans turning to artificial intelligence (AI) and generative tools for immediate medical advice. This shift is largely attributed to the convenience and often no-cost nature of these tools. However, questions about their reliability remain.
In New York, Tiffany Davis, a 42-year-old resident of Mesquite, Texas, exemplifies this trend. When faced with questions about symptoms related to her weight-loss injections, she opts to consult ChatGPT rather than her physician. Davis stated that she shares her status and feelings with the AI, using it for a variety of health-related inquiries.
A Gallup poll released recently reveals that approximately one-quarter of U.S. adults have utilized an AI tool for health information or advice within the past month. This finding is corroborated by at least three other surveys conducted in late 2025, which show a similar pattern.
Dr. Karandeep Singh, the chief health AI officer at the University of California San Diego Health, noted that these AI tools represent an evolution of traditional Google health searches. He described them as a more efficient entry point into web searches, allowing users to receive concise summaries instead of sifting through numerous links.
Looking for Immediate Answers
The desire for quick answers is a primary motivation for many Americans using AI tools for health inquiries. In some instances, these tools assist users in assessing the urgency of their medical needs. Davis indicated that she often consults ChatGPT before deciding to schedule a medical appointment, as it helps her gauge whether her symptoms are serious.
The Gallup survey found that around 70% of U.S. adults who have used AI for health research in the past month sought immediate answers, additional information, or were simply curious. Many respondents reported using AI for research prior to or following a doctor’s visit.
Rakesia Wilson, a 39-year-old from Theodore, Alabama, shared her experience of using AI to interpret lab results after an appointment with an endocrinologist. She frequently employs ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot to determine whether she needs to take time off for a doctor’s visit or if she can manage her condition independently. Wilson, who works up to 70 hours a week as an assistant principal, emphasized her limited time for minor health issues.
Overall, the data suggests that the rise of AI tools has not diminished the pursuit of professional medical care. Approximately 80% of U.S. adults reported consulting a doctor or healthcare professional for health information in the past year, while about 30% mentioned using AI tools and chatbots, according to a KFF poll from late February. Similarly, a Pew Research Center survey from October indicated that around 20% of U.S. adults occasionally seek health information from AI chatbots, in contrast to 85% who rely on healthcare providers.
Getting Professional Care is Difficult, Costly
Some Americans are resorting to AI for health advice due to challenges in accessing professional medical care. Current federal policies and market dynamics are exacerbating healthcare costs and creating barriers to access nationwide.
A notable portion of respondents in the Gallup study indicated they turned to AI because traditional healthcare was too expensive or inconvenient. Approximately 40% sought assistance outside of regular business hours, while around 30% were reluctant to pay for a doctor’s visit. Additionally, about 20% cited time constraints, feelings of being ignored by providers, or embarrassment as reasons for using AI.
The KFF survey revealed that younger adults and individuals from lower-income backgrounds were more likely to utilize AI tools or chatbots for health information due to financial constraints or difficulties in accessing healthcare services.
Experts in technology caution that AI chatbots do not possess independent reasoning capabilities, which can lead to the dissemination of inaccurate information. Such concerns have resonated even with frequent users of these tools.
Trust Factor: Assistant, Not an Expert
The Gallup poll indicated that approximately one-third of adults who recently used AI for health information expressed a degree of trust in the accuracy of the advice provided. Conversely, an equal percentage reported distrust, while another third remained neutral.
Dr. Bobby Mukkamala, an ear, nose, and throat specialist and president of the American Medical Association, acknowledged the value of patients arriving with informed questions due to their use of AI for research. However, he emphasized that AI should be viewed as a supplementary tool rather than a replacement for professional medical care.
Concerns regarding privacy also emerged in the KFF survey, with about 75% of U.S. adults expressing significant worry about the confidentiality of personal medical information shared with AI tools or chatbots. Singh from UC San Diego Health mentioned that many AI tools offer settings to prevent user data from being utilized for future model training, but this requires user diligence.
Last summer, incidents arose where private conversations with ChatGPT were inadvertently indexed on public websites, highlighting the potential risks associated with data privacy.
Tamara Ruppart, a 47-year-old director in Los Angeles, expressed her preference for consulting family doctors over AI, particularly given her family history of breast cancer. She remarked that relying on a chatbot for health advice carries too much risk, stating, “Health care is something that’s pretty serious. And if it’s wrong, you could really hurt yourself.”
Source: www.emirates247.com
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Published on 2026-04-15 08:41:00 • By the Editorial Desk
