Can I trust health advice from an AI chatbot?

Over the past year, Abi from Manchester has frequently turned to ChatGPT, a popular AI chatbot, to help navigate her health concerns. The main attraction is understandable: with the difficulty many face in getting timely appointments with a GP, AI offers instant answers around the clock. Notably, AI systems have even demonstrated the ability to successfully pass certain medical examinations, raising questions about their reliability for medical advice.

But how trustworthy are chatbots such as ChatGPT, Gemini, and Grok when it comes to health guidance? Are they fundamentally different from a traditional internet search, or do they carry risks by providing incorrect information that could jeopardize users’ well-being? Abi, who experiences health anxiety, finds chatbots more beneficial than internet searches, as the latter often leads her to the most frightening diagnoses. “It allows a kind of problem solving together,” she explains, “a little bit like chatting with your doctor.”

Abi has encountered both positive and negative experiences with AI health advice. For instance, when she suspected a urinary tract infection, ChatGPT evaluated her symptoms and advised her to consult a pharmacist. Following this, she received an antibiotic prescription. She appreciated that the chatbot directed her to care without feeling like she was burdening the National Health Service, adding that it helped her decide when a doctor’s visit was necessary. However, in a different situation while hiking, Abi injured her back severely and sought AI advice once again. The chatbot warned that she might have punctured an organ and urgently needed to visit A&E. After waiting several hours at emergency care, her pain lessened significantly and she was discharged, realizing that the AI’s diagnosis had been inaccurate.

The widespread use of AI chatbots for medical information is difficult to quantify, but their prevalence continues to rise, with AI-generated responses frequently appearing at the top of online searches. England’s Chief Medical Officer, Prof Sir Chris Whitty, voiced concerns earlier this year,

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