A new poll reveals that 39% of Americans trust tools like ChatGPT to make healthcare decisions. This growing reliance comes at a time when studies have warned that chatbots have largely stopped including medical disclaimers, potentially contributing to dangerous overconfidence.
Article contents:
- Growing trust in the digital doctor
- Disappearing disclaimers: A growing problem
- Why people turn to artificial intelligence
- Gender and age differences
- Dangers of misinformation
- Privacy risks: HIPAA and sensitive data
- Conclusion: A societal ailment that may worsen
- Frequently asked questions
Growing trust in the digital doctor
In a new poll of 2,000 Americans, 39% of respondents said they trust tools like ChatGPT to make healthcare decisions. This sentiment outweighed neutral feelings (31%) and outright distrust of chatbots in these matters (30%). This data shows how people are increasingly relying on artificial intelligence programs when navigating the complex healthcare system.
Disappearing disclaimers: A growing problem
This data comes just weeks after researchers published a study showing that artificial intelligence models from companies including OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google have largely stopped including disclaimers about following their medical advice, which were previously standard. While 26% of chatbot responses to health inquiries in 2022 contained some form of warning, fewer than 1% of responses in 2025 featured such a reminder. This lack of context may contribute to overconfidence in chatbots as a virtual equivalent to qualified medical experts.
Why people turn to artificial intelligence
Poll data indicates that dissatisfaction with the US healthcare system may be a driving factor. The data showed that 31% of Americans use chatbots to prepare questions for doctor visits, while 23% look to avoid medical expenses. Twenty percent of respondents said they turned to large language models for a second opinion, while 17% believe they are useful for avoiding bias or unfair treatment within the healthcare system.
Gender and age differences
The poll found that men are more likely to trust medical advice from a robot: 48% said this is a reliable source of health information, compared to 31% of women. Middle-aged users were also more confident, with 52% of adults aged 45 to 54 stating they could rely on artificial intelligence models to help with medical questions.
Dangers of misinformation
Clearly, chatbots cannot examine an individual the way a doctor can, and they can provide dangerous recommendations based on inaccurate conclusions. However, as another recent study found, people evaluate inaccurate artificial intelligence-generated responses about their medical condition just as highly as those written by real doctors. Study participants also noted a “high propensity to follow potentially harmful medical advice” provided by chatbots.
Privacy risks: HIPAA and sensitive data
Additionally, large language models do not comply with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and are not designed to handle sensitive health data. Uploading medical images, for example, could put users at risk in the event of a privacy breach.
Conclusion: A societal ailment that may worsen
Clearly, these concerns have not stopped many Americans from treating ChatGPT and its peers as 24/7 available doctors and therapists. Undoubtedly, this convenience, various barriers to obtaining treatment in the United States, and the virtual perception of chatbots as reliable experts on any subject have contributed to misleading people. Unless culture fosters a deeper skepticism toward artificial intelligence as a source of infinite knowledge, this is a societal ailment that may worsen.
Frequently asked questions
Is it safe to use ChatGPT for medical advice?
No. Experts and doctors strongly warn against it. Chatbots can be wrong, provide inaccurate or dangerous information, and are not a substitute for consulting a qualified healthcare professional.
Why do people trust artificial intelligence this much?
The reasons are complex and include ease of access, high healthcare costs, the desire for a second opinion, and the mistaken belief that artificial intelligence is reliable and objective.
Do chatbots protect my medical privacy?
No. They are incompatible with medical privacy laws such as HIPAA. Sharing sensitive health information with them exposes you to the risk of a privacy violation.
