AI chatbots increasingly used for health advice, but experts warn of risks
AI chatbots such as ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, and Google Gemini are gaining popularity for answering health-related questions, with 17% of adults reportedly using them at least once a month, according to a recent survey.
“There are a lot of reasons you might go to a chatbot for answers,” said Kevin Loria, a health reporter for Consumer Reports.
Loria explained that these tools are capable of generating comprehensive and easy-to-understand information.
“They can be quite good at generating a lot of information, and they’re very comprehensive and easy to understand,” he said.
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However, experts caution that these chatbots are not always reliable. They can fabricate facts or confuse critical details while presenting their answers as accurate.
“It’s really hard to know when there are inaccuracies, and these systems do get things wrong. We know that to be true. Fabrications can be hard to detect,” Loria said.
A recent study found that people often over-trust AI-generated medical advice, with many respondents unable to distinguish between answers from a chatbot and those from a real doctor.
Privacy concerns are another significant issue.
“AI systems are not bound by the same privacy laws as your doctor’s offices,” Loria said.
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This means that any information shared with a chatbot could potentially be used, sold, or exposed in a data breach.
Consumer Reports advises using AI as a starting point for gathering information, not for making diagnoses or treatment decisions. They recommend keeping sensitive personal health information private and verifying any information with trusted sources such as MedlinePlus, the CDC, or recognized medical organizations.
“If you do have questions that are going to affect how you act on your own health, talk to your doctor,” Loria said.