One in seven in UK prefer consulting AI chatbots to seeing doctor, study finds

"One in seven people are using AI chatbots for health advice instead of seeing their GP, a UK study has found. The poll of more than 2,000 people found that of the 15% turning to chatbots one in four had done so because of long NHS waiting lists. The study analysed by researchers at King's College London revealed the potential risks of using AI for health advice."

"A fifth of respondents who did so 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. The research is the first to quantify the use of AI chatbots for health advice, according to the researchers, and signals how the technology is changing the way people are dealing with health problems."

"Prof Graham Lord, the lead author of the study, said growing individual use of chatbots was creating an unregulated AI healthcare system alongside the NHS. He added: This research underlines the scale and pace at which AI is already shaping how people access healthcare. While the opportunities are significant, it also highlights concerns about safety and accountability."

"When something goes wrong with AI, responsibility is often placed on clinicians, even where they have limited control over how AI tools are introduced. To realise AI's potential, we need greater transparency about what works, what is safe, how decisions are made and how issues are handled so staff and patients can feel confident in its use. It is vital we respond to what the public are telling us and ensure we build and maintain trust with them and the AI tools we look to deploy."

A UK poll of more than 2,000 people found that 15% use AI chatbots for health advice, meaning about one in seven people rely on chatbots rather than seeing their GP. Among those who use chatbots, one in four did so because of long NHS waiting lists. Risks include reduced motivation to seek professional care and decisions against consultation after chatbot guidance. A fifth of respondents said the technology did not encourage them to seek a professional opinion, and a similar proportion said they avoided consultation because of what a chatbot told them. The findings indicate AI is changing how people access healthcare and create concerns about safety, accountability, and transparency in decision-making.

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