Key Takeaways
- About one‑quarter of U.S. adults used an AI tool for health information or advice in the past 30 days, according to a West Health–Gallup poll conducted in late 2025.
- Most users (≈ 70 %) seek quick answers, additional information, or simply satisfy curiosity before or after seeing a clinician.
- Younger adults and lower‑income individuals are more likely to turn to AI when cost, time, or access barriers make traditional care difficult to obtain.
- Trust in AI‑generated health advice is mixed: roughly one‑third trust it, one‑third distrust it, and the remaining third are neutral.
- Privacy concerns are widespread, with about three‑quarters of adults saying they are “very” or “somewhat” worried about how personal health data shared with AI tools might be used.
- Experts view AI as an upgraded entry point to web search—a helpful assistant that can summarize information but not a substitute for professional medical judgment.
Introduction: AI Becomes a Routine Health‑Info Source
In the ever‑expanding landscape of digital health, artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots have moved from novelty to everyday utility for many Americans. A West Health–Gallup Center on Healthcare in America poll, fielded in late 2025 and corroborated by at least three other recent surveys, found that roughly one‑quarter of U.S. adults had used an AI tool for health information or advice in the past 30 days. The trend mirrors decades‑long habits of “Googling” symptoms, but with a twist: AI now offers an executive summary instead of forcing users to sift through dozens of links.
Dr. Karandeep Singh, chief health AI officer at the University of California San Diego Health, described the shift succinctly:
“I almost view it like a better entry portal into web search. Instead of someone having to comb through the top, you know, 10, 20, 30 links in a web search, they can now have an executive summary.”
This perspective frames AI not as a replacement for clinicians but as a convenient filter that distills vast online information into digestible answers.
Most Users Seek Quick Answers
The Gallup survey revealed that about seven in ten U.S. adults who have used AI for health research in the past 30 days said they wanted quick answers, additional information, or were simply curious. Many employ these tools before scheduling a doctor’s visit or after an appointment to gauge whether symptoms warrant professional attention.
Tiffany Davis, a 42‑year‑old resident of Mesquite, Texas, illustrated this habit:
“I’ll just basically let ChatGPT know my status, how I’m feeling,” said Davis. “I use it for anything that I’m experiencing.”
She typically consults ChatGPT before deciding whether to book a medical appointment, using the AI’s output to gauge seriousness. Similarly, Rakesia Wilson, a 39‑year‑old assistant principal in Theodore, Alabama, turns to AI to interpret lab results after an endocrinology visit and to decide if she can monitor an ailment rather than take time off work. Wilson, who sometimes logs 70‑hour weeks, noted:
“I just don’t necessarily have the time if it’s something that I feel is minor.”
These anecdotes underscore a common motivation: speed and convenience drive AI adoption, especially among people juggling demanding schedules.
AI as a Bridge Over Care Gaps
While AI usage is widespread, the data also hint at a compensatory role for those facing obstacles to traditional care. The Gallup poll indicated that a small but significant share of respondents turned to AI because accessing health care was too expensive or inconvenient. Specific motivations included:
- About 4 in 10 wanted help outside normal business hours.
- Roughly 3 in 10 did not want to pay for a doctor’s visit.
- Approximately 2 in 10 lacked time to make an appointment, felt ignored or dismissed by a provider previously, or were too embarrassed to discuss symptoms in person.
The KFF survey reinforced this pattern, finding that younger adults and lower‑income individuals were more likely to cite cost or access barriers as reasons for using AI chatbots. For many, AI serves as a stopgap when primary‑care appointments are unaffordable, unavailable, or perceived as unwelcoming.
Dr. Bobby Mukkamala, an ear, nose and throat specialist and president of the American Medical Association, acknowledged the upside while urging caution:
“It is an assistant but not an expert, and that’s why physicians need to be involved in that care.”
He welcomed patients who arrive with “more evolved questions” thanks to AI research, but stressed that the technology should supplement—not supplant—clinical expertise.
Trust in AI‑Generated Health Advice Is Divided
Despite growing reliance, confidence in AI’s medical accuracy remains uneven. The Gallup poll showed that about one‑third of adults who recently used AI for health information said they “strongly” or “somewhat” trust the accuracy of the advice, while an equal proportion (34 %) distrusted it, and the remaining third expressed neither trust nor distrust.
This split reflects broader concerns raised by technologists and clinicians alike: AI chatbots do not “think” in the human sense and can occasionally generate false or misleading information. Dr. Singh warned that users must remain vigilant, especially regarding data privacy settings. He noted that many AI platforms allow users to toggle options that prevent their inputs from being used to train future models, but requiring user vigilance leaves room for error.
A vivid illustration emerged last summer when internet sleuths discovered that private ChatGPT conversations had been indexed on a public website without users’ knowledge—a breach that underscored the potential consequences of lax privacy controls.
Privacy Concerns Loom Large
Privacy emerged as a prevailing worry among the public. According to the KFF survey, about three‑quarters of U.S. adults said they are “very concerned” or “somewhat concerned” about the privacy of personal medical or health information that people provide to AI tools or chatbots.
Tamara Ruppart, a 47‑year‑old director in Los Angeles with a family history of breast cancer, exemplified this apprehension. Although she has access to physicians through her husband’s family, she remains wary of relying on chatbots for health advice:
“Health care is something that’s pretty serious. And if it’s wrong, you could really hurt yourself.”
Her sentiment captures a broader hesitation: while AI offers convenience, the stakes of inaccurate or mishandled health data feel too high for many to ignore.
Expert Outlook: AI as a Tool, Not a Replacement
Health‑care leaders consistently frame AI as an assistant rather than a substitute for professional judgment. Dr. Singh likened the technology to an upgraded search engine that can distill information but still requires human interpretation for context, nuance, and clinical decision‑making.
Dr. Mukkamala echoed this view, noting that while AI‑armed patients arrive with better‑informed questions, physicians must still verify recommendations, order appropriate tests, and provide personalized care plans. The consensus is clear: AI can enhance patient engagement and improve efficiency, but ultimate responsibility for diagnosis and treatment rests with licensed clinicians.
Conclusion: Balancing Convenience with Caution
The surge in AI‑driven health inquiries reflects a genuine demand for fast, accessible information—especially among those whose work schedules, finances, or geographic location impede regular clinic visits. Polls show that a significant portion of the population now reaches for a chatbot before picking up the phone to call a doctor.
Yet the same data reveal mixed feelings about reliability and deep concerns about privacy. Users like Tiffany Davis and Rakesia Wilson enjoy the immediacy of AI, while experts warn that the technology remains prone to error and must be used judiciously. Privacy safeguards exist, but they hinge on user awareness—a fragile dependency highlighted by recent public‑exposure incidents.
Moving forward, the challenge for health systems, policymakers, and technology developers will be to harness AI’s strengths—speed, scalability, and the ability to translate complex medical literature into plain language—while building robust safeguards for accuracy, confidentiality, and equitable access. Until those safeguards are universally trusted and easy to employ, many Americans will likely continue to treat AI as a helpful first step, not the final word, in managing their health.
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/why-so-americans-are-using-ai-for-health-guidance