By Tobi Thomas
Publication Date: 2026-05-13 15:55:00
According to a British study, one in seven people use AI chatbots for health advice instead of visiting their family doctor.
The survey of more than 2,000 people found that of the 15% who turned to chatbots, one in four had done so due to long NHS waiting lists.
The study, analyzed by researchers at King’s College London, highlighted 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 advice based on something an AI chatbot said.
According to the researchers, the study is the first to quantify the use of AI chatbots for health advice and shows how the technology is changing the way people deal with health issues.
Prof Graham Lord, lead author of the study, said the increasing individual use of chatbots was creating “an unregulated AI healthcare system alongside the NHS”.
He added: “This research…
