One in seven in UK prefer consulting AI chatbots to seeing doctor, study finds
Summary
A UK study found that about one in seven people use AI chatbots for health advice instead of visiting a doctor. Some do this because of long waiting times, but the study warns that AI chatbots can give wrong or misleading advice and may discourage people from seeking professional help.Key Facts
- 15% of people surveyed in the UK use AI chatbots for health advice instead of seeing a general practitioner (GP).
- One in four of these users turn to chatbots due to long NHS waiting lists.
- About 20% said the chatbot advice stopped them from seeking professional medical help.
- Users were divided on AI’s role in clinical decisions: 37% supported it, 38% opposed it.
- Older adults (65+) were less likely to oppose clinical AI use than younger people aged 18-24.
- Experts warn AI can give inaccurate or misleading health information and cannot replace doctors’ judgments.
- Health professionals stress AI should support, not replace, human doctors and must be regulated.
- Patients are encouraged to use trusted sources like NHS.uk and contact professionals for health concerns.
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