A new study from King’s College London reveals a quiet shift in how Brits handle health concerns: nearly one in seven adults have asked AI chatbots like ChatGPT about symptoms instead of calling their GP. The survey of 2,000 UK adults found 14% had used AI for medical advice in the past 12 months, while 10% turned to chatbots for mental health support instead of professionals. The numbers suggest AI is filling gaps left by stretched NHS services and long wait times for appointments. Researchers behind the study warn this trend could delay proper diagnoses and treatments for serious conditions.

Why people skip the doctor for AI

Convenience was the biggest factor, with 46% of respondents saying they used chatbots because it was easier than booking a GP appointment. Curiosity came next, cited by 45%, while 39% admitted they weren’t sure if their symptoms were serious enough to justify a doctor’s visit. Only 12% of those who used AI followed up with a professional after getting the chatbot’s advice. Dr. Sarah Johnson, a health psychologist who reviewed the findings, called the results ‘troubling.’ ‘People are gambling with their health for speed,’ she said. ‘AI can’t replace a physical exam or lab tests, and what looks like a minor rash could turn out to be something serious.’

The study highlights a growing divide between what patients want and what the NHS can deliver. Long wait times for GP appointments—often weeks for non-urgent cases—and the ease of accessing AI tools on phones have created a perfect storm. Schools and workplaces now see students and employees turning to chatbots first for everything from stomach pain to anxiety, despite medical bodies warning against it. The NHS has rolled out its own symptom checker, but uptake remains low compared to commercial AI tools.

Mental health: the other AI hotspot

For mental health, the numbers are starker. One in ten adults admitted they’d used AI chatbots instead of speaking to a therapist or counselor. The reasons mirrored the medical trend: 52% cited convenience, while 40% said they didn’t think their issues were ‘bad enough’ for professional help. Only 8% followed up with a real therapist after chatting with a bot. Experts worry this could leave vulnerable people without proper support, especially when responses from AI tools are often generic and lack nuance.

The study didn’t track which AI platforms people used most, but popular choices included ChatGPT, Bing Chat, and Google’s AI assistant. None of these platforms are regulated as medical devices, meaning their advice can be dangerously off-base. In 2023, a UK man was hospitalized after an AI chatbot repeatedly told him his chest pain was just heartburn—a misdiagnosis that nearly cost him his life.

What’s next for AI and British healthcare

The King’s College team is calling for clearer guidelines on when and how patients should use AI for health concerns. They suggest the NHS could integrate trusted AI tools into its own systems to guide users toward professional care when needed. But with NHS funding still tight and AI tools improving daily, the genie’s out of the bottle. Patients aren’t waiting around—they’re getting answers on their phones, even if those answers aren’t always right.

For now, the researchers urge caution. ‘If you’re using AI for health advice, treat it like a starting point, not a final answer,’ said Dr. Johnson. ‘And whatever you do, don’t ignore red flags—severe pain, sudden weight loss, or thoughts of self-harm. Those need a real doctor, not a chatbot.’ The study’s lead author added that social media and ad algorithms are partly to blame for normalizing AI over doctors. ‘We’re seeing influencers and ads push AI as the smarter choice,’ they said. ‘But health isn’t a trend. It’s personal.’

What You Need to Know

  • Source: The Register
  • Published: May 16, 2026 at 08:33 UTC
  • Category: Technology
  • Topics: #theregister · #tech · #enterprise · #chatgpt · #openai

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Curated by GlobalBR News · May 16, 2026

🇧🇷 Resumo em Português

Pela primeira vez, um estudo do King’s College London revela que quase 15% dos adultos britânicos preferiram consultar o ChatGPT a procurar um médico no ano passado, sinal de uma mudança radical na relação dos cidadãos com a saúde digital. A pesquisa, que aponta a conveniência e a curiosidade como principais motivos dessa escolha, acende um alerta sobre como a inteligência artificial está redefinindo até mesmo o acesso a serviços essenciais, como a medicina.

No Brasil, onde o sistema público de saúde enfrenta superlotação e longas filas, a notícia ganha contornos ainda mais relevantes. O país tem uma das maiores taxas de uso de internet do mundo e uma população cada vez mais familiarizada com ferramentas de IA, o que torna inevitável a discussão sobre como integrar essas tecnologias ao sistema de saúde sem comprometer a qualidade do atendimento. Além disso, o fenômeno levanta questões éticas e regulatórias, já que a falta de supervisão médica nessas interações pode representar riscos para os usuários.

Enquanto governos e instituições de saúde ao redor do globo ainda buscam respostas, uma coisa é certa: a confiança na IA como suporte médico veio para ficar, e o Brasil não será exceção.

🇪🇸 Resumen en Español

El auge de la inteligencia artificial ha calado tan hondo en la sociedad británica que uno de cada siete adultos prefirió consultar a ChatGPT antes que a su médico de cabecera en 2023. Según un estudio reciente de la Universidad King’s College de Londres, casi el 15% de los británicos recurrió a chatbots como este para obtener diagnósticos o consejos sanitarios, un fenómeno que refleja tanto la fascinación por las nuevas tecnologías como la búsqueda de respuestas inmediatas.

Este cambio de comportamiento, impulsado por la comodidad y la curiosidad, plantea serios interrogantes sobre la confidencialidad, la precisión médica y la relación paciente-profesional en un sistema sanitario ya tensionado. Para los hispanohablantes, especialmente en un contexto donde la sanidad pública enfrenta desafíos similares de accesibilidad y saturación, el estudio invita a reflexionar sobre cómo equilibrar la innovación tecnológica con la garantía de un asesoramiento profesional fiable. La tendencia podría extenderse rápidamente más allá del Reino Unido, convirtiendo el debate en un tema de interés global.