Q: Is Artificial Intelligence useful for understanding my health issues?
A: Using Artificial Intelligence (AI) can be a helpful way to gather information about a health topic. However, it is important to understand both its benefits and its limitations when addressing medical concerns.
AI is still relatively new, yet it is already integrated into many of the tools we use every day. Even a simple online search often provides an AI-generated summary. While convenient, there are valid concerns about data privacy, misinformation, ethical use and the environmental impact of consuming significant electricity and water. Therefore, it is important to understand how to use AI thoughtfully and safely.
One popular AI tool is ChatGPT. I recently spoke with a man who used ChatGPT to better understand what medications he should give to his wife who has Dementia and several other chronic conditions. This program recommended that she not use the medications that her doctor had prescribed.
Unfortunately, the man already felt that the doctor was not fully listening to his concerns. ChatGPT, on the other hand, provided responses that felt caring and thoughtful. As a result, he chose to follow the guidance of the AI program and discontinued some of his wife’s medications without consulting her doctor.
Situations like this can be dangerous. AI should not be treated as the final authority, especially when it comes to medical decisions. While it can quickly analyze large amounts of information and present it in language the user can easily understand, AI should not replace professional medical judgement or individualized medical care.
That said, AI can be a valuable educational tool to help people better understand health topics, suggest questions to ask, and help them be more informed during their doctor’s visits.
For example, in this situation, the man could have used ChatGPT to explore possible questions or alternative approaches, then discussed those ideas with his wife’s doctor. Since he felt the doctor was not always listening to his needs, he could use AI to help organize symptoms and concerns into a clear summary, making it easier to communicate during what can often be brief and stressful medical visits.
AI can be a useful educational tool to help you feel more prepared and informed, but it is important to protect your privacy while using it. Do not enter personal information such as your name, birth date, or address into AI tools. Because AI does not have access to your complete medical history or personal details, it cannot provide fully informed medical advice. Just keep this in mind and allow AI to be a supportive tool, but not a decision maker when it comes to your healthcare.
Managing chronic health conditions can be stressful and overwhelming. AI as a tool can help empower patients to better understand their conditions and be an active partner in their care. It provides summaries and uses language that most people can understand. However, just know that it is only a tool to be used under the guidance of a medical professional.
Martha Shapiro can be reached at Senior Concerns at 805-497-0189 or by email at mshapiro@seniorconcerns.org.
