Americans Want to Know When Their Healthcare Providers Use AI
AI chatbots are changing the healthcare landscape, but privacy and transparency remain critical concerns.
A recent Pew Research Center survey reveals that Americans are increasingly turning to AI chatbots for healthcare assistance, but transparency remains a top concern. One in four respondents reported using chatbots to diagnose symptoms, mainly for convenience and affordability. Of those who used chatbots, 47% found the health information helpful, while 48% deemed it somewhat helpful. Only 5% found the information not very or not at all helpful.
AI chatbots simulate conversations and generate responses using vast amounts of data they were trained on. However, they can "hallucinate" or produce false information, which can be dangerous when dealing with personal health concerns. Additionally, AI is being used in doctors' offices for note-taking, interpreting exams, and more. While 72% of respondents want medical providers to disclose any AI use, only 47% are aware if AI has been used in their treatment.
Despite the convenience of AI chatbots, Americans are unsure whether these systems have played a role in their healthcare and have mixed feelings about sharing personal health information with them. While 29% of respondents said they are extremely or very comfortable sharing health information with chatbots, 26% expressed discomfort with it.
Written by urgent.news from CNET's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
