Health Information Library

By Mayo Clinic Staff

Imagine you've been feeling tired for weeks. Your usual strategies, like rest and extra coffee, aren't helping. Before deciding whether to schedule an appointment with a healthcare professional, you open an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered chat tool and type, "What health conditions cause fatigue?"

Within seconds, a list of answers appears. It includes stress, anemia, thyroid issues, depression, chronic illness and cancer. The information feels organized and sounds accurate — and a little scary.

But is this answer trustworthy? And what should you do with this information?

Nearly 8 in 10 adults in the U.S. turn to the internet for answers to health questions. Instead of scrolling through websites, many people find answers in the AI-generated summary that appears at the top of their search results.

But it doesn't stop there. More than 1 in 5 adults worldwide are turning directly to AI chatbots, like ChatGPT and Gemini, to ask health questions. It's fast, convenient and free. But Mayo Clinic experts warn that AI-generated information isn't always reliable or accurate.

When it comes to using AI for health information, there are a few key limitations to keep in mind:

AI tools don't have access to your full medical record — and you shouldn’t upload or share it with them. These tools can't examine you or run tests the way a healthcare professional can. They don't have the ability to reason like a human or explain how they came to a conclusion. These qualities are necessary for making safe and accurate medical decisions.

AI chatbots give answers based on patterns in data. They don't "know" facts in the way a health professional does. Sometimes AI information sounds true but is completely incorrect. This is known as hallucination. For example, when asked how to get more minerals from food, AI has been known to recommend eating rocks.

AI systems are trained on large amounts of data that may contain bias or gaps. That means it may not reflect everyone's experience fairly. For example, an AI system that learned from information about people in the United States and parts of Europe might miss signs of depression. That's because it doesn't know that in some cultures, people show sadness through physical symptoms like headaches or tiredness, rather than talking about their feelings.

AI doesn't know what's true and what's not. It may pull answers from flawed or misleading sources it finds online. When people see alarming health stories online, they often forward or repost them — even if they know the information may not be true. As false information spreads, there’s more of it online. AI may then repeat that false information.

One study found that people seeking health information don't tend to give AI chatbots enough specific information for clear, accurate answers. And small differences in how symptoms are described can completely change the answer from AI, making it less accurate. For example, when two people asked about the same symptoms but used different words, AI told only one of them the correct answer, which was to get emergency care.

If you still want to use AI to learn about a health topic, here are practical steps to reduce risk:

• Use AI for general education, not diagnosis. AI is best suited for explaining medical terms or giving general wellness advice. For example, you might ask, "What does hypertension mean in plain language?" or "How can I add more movement into my day?"
• Cross-check everything. Verify information with trusted sources, like websites for Mayo Clinic or the American Medical Association. Most importantly, review what you learn with your healthcare team.
• Ask clear, specific questions. Instead of asking, "Is coughing a bad sign?" try, "What are common causes of chronic dry cough in adults?" Clear, focused questions tend to produce more useful and balanced answers. Remember: Healthcare professionals are trained to ask the right follow-up questions. AI isn't.
• Protect your privacy. Don't share personal information, like your full name, date of birth, address, medical records or insurance details. Even health details should be shared cautiously, especially on public or free platforms.

Think of AI as a research assistant, not as your healthcare professional. It can be a helpful tool for summarizing ideas or getting big-picture information. AI can be extremely useful in preparing questions to ask your care team. But when it comes to your health, the safest and most effective decisions are still made with a trusted healthcare professional.