One in Seven in UK Prefer Consulting AI Chatbots to Seeing Doctor, Study Finds
A new study in the United Kingdom has revealed that one in seven people (15%) are using AI chatbots for health advice instead of seeing their GP. The poll of more than 2,000 people, analyzed by researchers at King’s College London, has quantified for the first time how widespread AI has become in people’s search for medical guidance. Of those turning to chatbots, one in four had done so because of long NHS waiting lists.
The study data also highlighted the potential risks of using AI for health advice and its transformative impact on individual decisions. A fifth of respondents who used chatbots said the technology did not encourage them to seek a professional opinion, and a similar proportion said they decided against seeking a consultation because of something an AI chatbot had told them. Prof. Graham Lord, the lead author of the study, warned that this growing trend is creating “an unregulated AI healthcare system alongside the NHS.”
The medical community pointed out that this uncontrolled shift poses severe dangers to patients. Prof. Victoria Tzortziou Brown, the president of the Royal College of General Practitioners, stated that while AI tools can provide quick answers, they cannot examine a patient, fully understand their medical history, or make safe clinical judgments based on evidence, and the information provided can be inaccurate or misleading. Healthcare professionals emphasized that while technology has a vital role to play in healthcare, these digital tools must not become a substitute for investing in general practice or ensuring patients can access care from a trained professional.