Poll Reveals One-Quarter of Americans Now Use AI for Health Advice
A significant number of American adults are increasingly relying on artificial intelligence tools for health-related guidance, according to a comprehensive Gallup poll published this week. The survey, conducted in late 2025 and corroborated by multiple other recent studies, indicates that approximately 25% of U.S. adults have utilized an AI platform for health information or advice within the past month.
Convenience and Immediate Answers Drive AI Health Usage
The primary motivation for turning to AI appears to be the desire for quick, accessible answers. Tiffany Davis, a 42-year-old from Mesquite, Texas, exemplifies this trend. Instead of contacting her physician about symptoms related to her weight-loss injections, she consults ChatGPT directly. "I'll just basically let ChatGPT know my status, how I'm feeling," Davis explained. "I use it for anything that I'm experiencing."
Dr. Karandeep Singh, Chief Health AI Officer at UC San Diego Health, describes these AI tools as an enhanced version of traditional internet health searches. "I almost view it like a better entry portal into web search," he noted. "Instead of someone having to comb through the top 10, 20, 30 links in a web search, they can now have an executive summary."
The Gallup survey found that about 70% of recent AI health users sought quick answers, additional information, or were simply curious. Majorities reported using AI for research both before and after medical appointments.
Bridging Healthcare Gaps for Younger and Lower-Income Americans
While AI usage hasn't replaced professional medical care entirely—with about 80% of adults still consulting healthcare providers annually—there are clear indications that some Americans are using AI to overcome barriers to traditional care. A small but significant portion of Gallup respondents cited healthcare access challenges as their reason for turning to AI.
- Approximately 40% wanted assistance outside normal business hours
- Roughly 30% wished to avoid paying for a doctor's visit
- About 20% lacked time for appointments or had previously felt dismissed by providers
Rakesia Wilson, a 39-year-old assistant principal from Theodore, Alabama, typifies this pattern. She regularly uses ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot to interpret lab results and decide whether medical appointments are necessary. "I just don't necessarily have the time if it's something that I feel is minor," said Wilson, who sometimes works 70-hour weeks.
Additional surveys from KFF and Pew Research Center reinforce these findings, showing that younger adults and lower-income individuals are particularly likely to use AI tools when facing cost or access barriers to traditional healthcare.
Trust and Privacy Concerns Remain Significant
Despite growing adoption, Americans remain divided on whether AI-generated medical advice can be trusted. The Gallup poll found that only about one-third of recent AI health users strongly or somewhat trust the accuracy of AI health information, while another third distrust it, and the remaining third are neutral.
Dr. Bobby Mukkamala, President of the American Medical Association, acknowledges the educational value of AI research but emphasizes its limitations. "It is an assistant but not an expert, and that's why physicians need to be involved in that care," he stated.
Privacy concerns are also prominent, with about 75% of adults expressing some level of concern about the security of personal medical information shared with AI tools. While most AI platforms offer privacy settings, user vigilance is required—as demonstrated last summer when private ChatGPT conversations were discovered indexed on a public website without users' knowledge.
Tamara Ruppart, a 47-year-old director in Los Angeles, represents those who remain cautious. With a family history of breast cancer, she considers using chatbots for health advice too risky. "Health care is something that's pretty serious," she said. "And if it's wrong, you could really hurt yourself."
The poll results highlight a significant shift in how Americans approach health information, blending traditional medical care with emerging technologies while navigating complex questions about accuracy, access, and privacy.
