A new national survey released Tuesday shows that 25% of American adults have used an artificial intelligence (AI) tool or chatbot to seek health information or advice, underscoring how AI is becoming embedded in healthcare decision-making as a supplemental tool rather than a replacement for traditional medical care.
The findings come from the West Health-Gallup Center on Healthcare in America, which surveyed more than 5,500 U.S. adults between October and December 2025 using the Gallup Panel.
The report highlights how AI usage is expanding across income and age groups, while also revealing a persistent gap in trust toward AI-generated medical information.
Research-Driven Use Dominates Patient Behavior
Among respondents who used AI for health purposes in the past 30 days, 59% said they used it to research symptoms or conditions before visiting a doctor, while 56% used it after a medical appointment. Nearly half of users 46% reported increased confidence when speaking with healthcare providers after using AI tools.
The most common platforms included conversational AI systems such as ChatGPT or Microsoft Copilot, used by 61% of respondents, followed by AI tools embedded in search engines at 55%. The findings suggest AI is increasingly functioning as a preparatory and interpretive layer in patient-provider interactions rather than a standalone diagnostic substitute.
Access And Income Gaps Shape Adoption Patterns
The survey also points to uneven adoption tied to affordability and healthcare access. Among lower-income households earning under $24,000 annually, 32% reported using AI because they could not afford a doctor visit, compared with just 2% among those earning $180,000 or more.
Broader behavioral signals indicate that while most users rely on AI to supplement care, a smaller subset may be substituting it in place of in-person consultations. An estimated 14 million adults reported skipping a provider visit after receiving AI-generated guidance.
Trust Gap Persists As Industry Investment Expands
Despite rising usage, confidence in AI-generated health information remains limited. Only 4% of recent users said they strongly trust its accuracy, while roughly one-third expressed trust, neutrality, and distrust respectively. About 11% also reported encountering advice they believed was unsafe.
The findings come as broader industry investment in AI-driven healthcare accelerates. Recent developments include Roche Holding AG’s (OTC:RHHBY) large-scale AI infrastructure expansion powered by NVIDIA Corp. (NASDAQ:NVDA), aimed at accelerating diagnostics and drug development. Separately, Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) has partnered with European pharmacy operator DocMorris to deploy AI-powered symptom checks and prescription tools, reflecting the growing integration of AI into healthcare delivery systems.
Disclaimer: This content was produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
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