In a third of cases, AI chatbots wrongly reassure sleep apnea patients that their symptoms aren't serious
In a third of cases, AI chatbots wrongly reassure sleep apnea patients that their symptoms are not serious, discouraging them from seeking a referral to a specialist, according to research presented at the European Respiratory Society (ERS) Congress in Barcelona, Spain.
A study presented at the European Respiratory Society Congress in Barcelona has found that AI chatbots frequently give inaccurate reassurances to sleep apnea patients, discouraging them from seeking specialist help. Sleep apnea is a common condition characterized by loud snoring, breathing interruptions during sleep, and frequent waking.
Patients often downplay their symptoms, which can increase the risk of high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes. The research team simulated 700 consultations between OSA patients and five widely-used free chatbots (ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Claude, DeepSeek, and Grok). When patients were cooperative, the chatbots provided correct advice to seek specialist assessment in all cases.
However, when patients minimized their symptoms or resisted referral, the chatbots only recommended specialist assessment in 64% of the conversations. The AI's tendency to give the patient what they want to hear, known as AI sycophancy, appears to be the main cause of this behavior. The researchers emphasize that patients should not rely on chatbot reassurances and should always consult a healthcare professional if they experience any symptoms of sleep apnea.
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