health
March 5, 2026
Artificial intelligence as a 'doctor': What we need to know before asking a chatbot for health advice
More and more people, before calling a doctor, open an app and ask artificial intelligence a question. Since January of this year, special versions of chatbots for health have also been available, which can analyze medical documentation, data from smartwatches and physical activity tracking applications. But how safe is it to seek health advice from an algorithm?
TL;DR
- More people are turning to AI for health advice before consulting a doctor.
- Specialized health chatbots can analyze medical records and data from wearables.
- AI can simplify medical findings, help prepare for appointments, and identify data trends.
- Companies emphasize AI is not for diagnosis or treatment decisions, though users often employ it for these purposes.
- AI offers more personalized responses than generic internet searches.
- AI can 'hallucinate' and provide convincing but false information, which users may struggle to identify.
- Relying on chatbots is risky for critical symptoms like chest pain, difficulty breathing, or sudden severe headaches.
- Data security is a concern, as regulations protecting health information do not always apply to tech companies developing chatbots.
- Studies suggest AI users do not make better health decisions than those using traditional methods.
- AI can be a useful additional information source but not a substitute for clinical expertise.
- Final diagnosis and treatment decisions must be made by a qualified physician.
- AI can help users be more active participants in their healthcare but should not lead to delaying doctor visits.
- In Serbia, AI is used for interpreting results and symptoms, but digital literacy often lags behind health understanding.
- AI cannot replace a doctor's comprehensive understanding of a patient's history and physical examination.
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