NEWS: Public Divided as Patients Turn to AI for Health Advice

As reported by the National Health Executive, public confidence in artificial intelligence in healthcare remains deeply divided, even as growing numbers of people turn to AI tools for medical advice and mental health support, according to a new study

The research, carried out by King’s Health Partners, Responsible AI UK and the Policy Institute at King’s College London, found that 15% of people have already used AI chatbots instead of contacting a GP or NHS service. One in ten said they had used AI for therapy or wellbeing support rather than seeking help from a trained professional.

Public opinion on the role of AI in NHS decision-making was found to be almost evenly split, with 37% supporting its use in clinical care and 38% opposed.

Opposition was strongest among younger adults, with nearly half of 18 to 24 year olds against the use of AI in clinical settings, compared with just over a third of people aged 65 and over. Women were also significantly more sceptical than men.

Despite increasing use of the technology, trust in AI remained consistently lower than trust in doctors across all clinical scenarios examined in the study. The widest gap was seen in psychological therapy, where respondents overwhelmingly preferred human professionals over AI systems.

Researchers also raised concerns about the potential risks linked to reliance on unregulated tools, citing recent evidence that some AI chatbots misdiagnose a high proportion of early medical cases.

The study found that AI advice is already influencing healthcare behaviour. More than one in five people who used AI for health advice said it led them not to seek professional medical help, while a similar proportion said the technology did not encourage them to contact healthcare services.