More Americans Are Turning to AI, Ditching Dr. Google

Key Points:

• AI health tools, enhanced by web search capabilities, serve as improved portals for quick, summarized health information, reducing the need to sift through multiple web links, according to Dr. Karandeep Singh of UC San Diego Health.
• A Gallup survey reveals that about 70% of US adults using AI for health research seek immediate answers, often to determine the urgency of medical attention, with many using AI before or after doctor visits.
• Despite AI usage, most Americans continue to consult healthcare professionals, with 80% seeking professional health information annually, though some turn to AI due to cost, convenience, or discomfort with traditional care.
• Trust in AI health information is mixed: roughly one-third of users trust its accuracy, one-third distrust it, and another third remain neutral, highlighting ongoing skepticism and uncertainty.
• The American Medical Association emphasizes that AI should be viewed as a supportive tool rather than a replacement for professional medical advice, encouraging informed patient questions but not substituting expert care.