One-Third of Americans Now Use AI for Health Advice

Overview

• A Kaiser Family Foundation poll found about one third of U.S. adults used AI for physical health information in the past year, with most citing the draw of quick, on-the-spot answers.
• Tech giants now offer health chatbots that accept uploads of medical records and wellness data, including ChatGPT Health, Claude for Healthcare, Microsoft Copilot Health, and Amazon Health AI.
• Independent tests report reliability problems, including findings that ChatGPT Health under-triaged a little over half of sample cases when asked how urgently care was needed.
• Clinicians and privacy watchdogs warn that chatbots can hallucinate facts, reinforce bias, and expose sensitive data, and they advise checking cited sources and relying on clinicians for diagnoses or emergencies.
• A Colorado Springs patient said ChatGPT helped her see the severity of an eating disorder and seek in-person care, though her psychiatrist said complex issues like eating disorders, severe depression, or self-harm thoughts warrant professional treatment.