Gallup poll shows 1 in 4 Americans use AI chatbots for health advice and information

Increasing Reliance on AI for Health Advice: Many American adults, particularly younger individuals and those with lower incomes, use AI chatbots like ChatGPT for health advice and information, often due to cost and access barriers.
Viewing AI as a Supplement: Most users see AI as a supplemental tool to enhance doctor visits by answering questions about nutrition, exercise, and symptoms, though only a minority use it primarily due to affordability or lack of access.
Cautions on Accuracy: Researchers and health experts caution that while AI can increase informed discussions during doctor visits, it is prone to giving inaccurate or non-medically appropriate information, particularly when used to replace or conduct medical diagnoses.
Growing Popularity of Health-Specific AI: Tech companies are recognizing this trend by launching platforms dedicated to answering health-related queries, indicating a substantial number of people seek health advice from these tools.
Potential Risks: A study in the British Medical Journal shows that while chatbots provide confident answers, about half of their responses could be ineffective or harmful, highlighting the risk of misinformation.
Expert Recommendations: Experts advise that AI can be useful for general health information and cross-checking, but it should not be relied upon for diagnoses or personal medical information due to risks.