Artificial intelligence is profoundly reshaping how individuals approach their health. A recent study, conducted nationwide by Confused.com Life Insurance, indicates that approximately three out of five UK adults now utilize AI tools to investigate potential health conditions. This widespread adoption includes inquiries into symptom identification, exploring treatment alternatives, and understanding medication side effects.
The survey highlights that a notable 11% of participants believe AI has positively influenced their health outcomes. Furthermore, over one-third (35%) anticipate continued reliance on AI for health guidance in the future, signaling a potential move away from conventional general practitioner (GP) consultations, which are often difficult to secure promptly.
Mounting Pressures on Traditional Healthcare
The average wait for a GP appointment in the United Kingdom currently stands at approximately ten days, a duration many find unacceptably long. Consequently, health-related search queries have seen a substantial increase since January 2025. Searches such as "what is my illness?" surged by 85%, "what are the symptoms for?" by 33%, and "side effects" by 22%.
According to Confused.com's analysis, checking symptoms is the most prevalent health-related query posed to AI, with 63% of users seeking this type of information. Other common inquiries include:
- Researching side effects (50%)
- Exploring lifestyle and well-being techniques (38%)
- Seeking mental health support, including therapy suggestions or coping mechanisms (20%), effectively treating AI platforms like ChatGPT as a virtual therapist.
Demographic data reveals a clear generational divide in AI adoption for health. While 35% of individuals over 65 engage AI for self-diagnosis, with 54% specifically checking symptoms, this figure is dwarfed by the 85% of 18-24 year olds who regularly consult AI for health concerns.
The Perceived Advantages of AI in Health
With GP waiting times sometimes extending to a month, it is unsurprising that 42% of respondents cited AI's speed as a primary benefit over traditional medical appointments. Several other factors contribute to its appeal:
- A significant proportion of younger adults—50% of 25-34 year olds and 51% of 35-44 year olds—expressed discomfort with timing risks, believing that self-diagnosis offers a quicker response than awaiting a GP visit.
- Concerns for family well-being also drive AI usage, with 20% leveraging the technology to identify optimal health support strategies for loved ones.
- The preference for anonymity is another contributing factor; 24% of users reported feeling more comfortable discussing health issues with AI than face-to-face with a healthcare professional, a sentiment that escalates to 39% among 18-24 year olds.
- Furthermore, 17% are using AI to discover alternative medical solutions, a percentage that climbs to 27% for those aged 25-34.
- Financial considerations also play a role, as 20% believe AI-powered self-diagnosis could help them avoid significant private healthcare expenses.
AI has also demonstrated a particularly positive impact on non-binary individuals and those with alternative identities, with 75% reporting that AI's insights were "a great deal" helpful, a figure significantly higher than the 13% for men and 9% for women.
Expert Warnings and the Role of Professional Care
Overall, AI appears to be having a largely positive influence on user health perceptions. Approximately 11% stated AI had helped their conditions "a great deal," while 41% found it "somewhat" beneficial. The expectation is that while AI self-diagnosis does not guarantee accuracy, it might encourage individuals to seek formal diagnoses from their GP.
However, a minority of respondents (9%) felt AI offered no health assistance, suggesting that conventional healthcare approaches remain more dependable for them. Tom Vaughan, a life insurance expert at Confused.com, emphasized the critical importance of GP consultations. "While AI can be useful for initial research and gaining an understanding of a condition, it's clear that for the ultimate peace of mind people should consult a GP or pharmacist," Vaughan stated. He added that medical professionals alone can accurately diagnose conditions, many of which could worsen without appropriate treatment.
OpenAI's Entry into Health AI
The increasing trend of AI use for health inquiries coincides with OpenAI's introduction of its new ChatGPT Health feature. Designed to address the substantial volume of health-related questions processed daily—reportedly over 230 million weekly inquiries—this platform aims to provide more tailored responses.
ChatGPT Health enables users to integrate personal medical records and wellness applications like Apple Health, allowing the AI to offer customized insights rather than generic health information. OpenAI has explicitly clarified that this new feature is not a diagnostic tool or a substitute for professional medical attention. Instead, it is intended to complement medical care by assisting with tasks such as interpreting lab results and tracking wellness, rather than providing formal diagnoses or treatment plans.
Developed with input from numerous physicians globally, ChatGPT Health prioritizes clarity and user safety. Despite its non-diagnostic purpose, the number of individuals turning to AI for health information and understanding medical issues is projected to rise, potentially posing significant questions regarding patient care and clinical trust.
This article is a rewritten summary based on publicly available reporting. For the original story, visit the source.
Source: AI News
