<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3cqPvU_1CNvr1lB00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3cqPvU_1CNvr1lB00" width="1920" height="1080" ></figure>MEMPHIS, Tenn. - More people are turning to artificial intelligence chatbots for answers about their health, but doctors say those tools shouldn’t replace medical professionals.A recent study from Pennsylvania State University found AI chatbots provided accurate answers to health-related questions about 76 percent of the time. Researchers said nearly one in four responses had errors, missing information or advice that could potentially cause harm if followed without proper medical guidance.Dr. Jason Yaun, a pediatrician with Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, said he is not surprised by the findings.“We know that teens and parents are all turning to AI for health advice,” Yaun said. “Some will come in and admit that to us, but I think by and large, they may not be telling us that. But we know from the data and what we are hearing.”The study found AI tools often provide answers that sound confident and authoritative, even when information is incomplete or inaccurate. Dr. Yaun said that can make it difficult for users to recognize when they are receiving bad advice.“The most important thing is that a lot of times AI can be wrong,” Yaun said. “It responds as if it’s very confident. But it can be wrong quite a bit.”Health experts say the popularity of AI chatbots may be especially appealing to teenagers because they are available around the clock and can provide immediate responses.“AI is available 24/7,” Yaun said. “A lot of times we may have anxiety around our health and things like that. So it can be natural to want to turn to something that can provide us what might seem like a quick answer. But again, it may not always be fully accurate.”While AI can provide general information about symptoms or medical conditions, Dr. Yaun said it lacks important context that doctors use when evaluating patients.“AI can generally provide information about a health care condition, but they don’t necessarily know your past medical history or your family history,” he said.Dr. Yaun said he is particularly concerned about teenagers using chatbots for advice related to mental health, self-harm or other sensitive topics.“The things that we are seeing in teens around mental health and self-harm potential and things like that that we’ve seen in the news, it can be very dangerous sometimes, or concerning if they’re turning to AI,” Yaun said.Despite those concerns, Dr. Yaun said AI can still be useful when used appropriately. He recommends treating chatbots as a starting point for gathering information rather than a tool for diagnosis.“It can be a good place to get more information, but probably not a good place to start with the diagnosis and certainly can’t replace the information from your physician,” he said.Doctors also encourage parents to talk with their children about how they use AI and to keep communication open if health questions arise.Experts say AI may be helpful for learning about medical topics, but decisions about diagnosis and treatment should still be made with guidance from a qualified health care professional.</div></body>

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MEMPHIS, Tenn. - More people are turning to artificial intelligence chatbots for answers about their health, but doctors say those tools shouldn’t replace medical professionals. A recent study from Pennsylvania State University found AI chatbots provided accurate answers to health-related questions about 76 percent of the time. Researchers said...

Doctors caution against using AI for medical advice

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MEMPHIS, Tenn. - More people are turning to artificial intelligence chatbots for answers about their health, but doctors say those tools shouldn’t replace 

Doctors caution against using AI for medical advice

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