What happened
A Pew Research Center survey of 3,488 U.S. adults found that 34% have used AI chatbots for at least one of eight health-related reasons, such as getting information quickly (28%), figuring out symptoms (25%), or learning more about a doctor's diagnosis (22%).
Why it matters
While 47% of these chatbot health users find the information extremely or very helpful, only 29% feel extremely or very comfortable sharing personal health information with a chatbot. This comes amid scrutiny over platforms storing or selling health data and using it to train large language models.
What to watch
Asian Americans (56%) and adults ages 18-29 (44%) are the most likely to be chatbot health users, while those more concerned about increased AI use are far less likely to use them for health (21%) compared with those more excited about AI (60%).
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The Pew survey highlights a growing reliance on AI chatbots for health information, with a third of U.S. adults using them for at least one health-related purpose. Convenience and cost are major drivers, but understanding medical information from providers is also common. This suggests chatbots are becoming a complement, not a replacement, for professional care.
The demographic patterns—higher use among Asian Americans, younger adults, college graduates, and those with upper incomes—mirror broader AI adoption trends. Optimism about AI also correlates strongly with health chatbot use, as those more excited about AI are nearly three times as likely to use them for health as those more concerned.
The split on comfort sharing personal health data is notable, with 29% extremely or very comfortable and 26% not too or not at all comfortable. This comes as some platforms face scrutiny over health data handling and tech companies launch new healthcare chatbot tools, likely shaping future adoption and regulation.
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