According to a new report from OpenAI, nearly 60% of U.S. adults say they have used artificial intelligence tools for health or health care-related purposes in the past three months. While AI can be a helpful source of information, experts caution that it should be used as a supplement, not a substitute, for professional medical care.
Consulting your primary care physician — whether in person or through a phone or video visit — is preferable to relying on AI alone for several important reasons:
AI doesn’t know you. Physicians evaluate symptoms in the context of your medical history, medications, family history and lifestyle. AI relies on generalized information and can’t fully account for individual differences.
AI can be wrong. Generative AI tools can provide incorrect or misleading information with confidence, and patients may not recognize when an answer is inaccurate or incomplete.
Symptoms require clinical interpretation. Many serious conditions share common or vague symptoms. A physician can examine you, order tests and recognize warning signs an AI chatbot may miss.
Doctors provide follow-through. Primary care physicians monitor conditions over time, adjust treatment plans and coordinate referrals when needed.
Early care prevents bigger problems. Delaying care based on AI reassurance can allow conditions to worsen, leading to more complex and costly treatment later.
A reminder: MedBen WellLiving reinforces the importance of provider-guided primary care by encouraging preventive screenings and early detection, when many conditions are easiest to treat. To learn more, contact your broker or MedBen Marketing.