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186.2 million Americans rely on AI for medical advice, in some cases trusting chatbots before consulting a doctor, according to a new study from medical staffing platform Nursa.
Research highlights:
Floridians are among the people most likely to rely on AI instead of doctors, and Miami and Jacksonville are among the top cities in the U.S. for health use of AI.
More than half of Americans (54.34%) have used AI to assess symptoms or health concerns, representing 186.2 million Americans.
The most common reason for seeking AI help is cold and flu symptoms (37.66% of people who turned to AI)
Jacksonville, Florida was ranked as one of the cities most likely to replace doctors with AI, ranking 13th.
57.4% of residents here have previously consulted AI about a health concern or symptom, and 48.9% of Jacksonville residents would use AI to check for medical symptoms before deciding whether to see a doctor.
An astonishing 51.1% of Jacksonville residents trust health advice from AI.
Miami ranks 18th most likely to replace doctors with AI.
54.8% of residents have used AI for health advice, and only 48.4% trust AI health advice.
Overall, 53.2% of Americans say they trust AI-generated medical advice at least “a lot,” including 12.0% who say they trust it “a lot.”
Young people report the highest levels of trust, with 76.5% of adults aged 18-24 saying they trust medical advice from AI, compared to just 37.4% of adults aged 55 and older.
Despite increasing openness to AI healthcare tools, mistrust remains widespread across the country. Four in ten Americans (40.3%) say they would not trust medical advice generated by AI, including nearly one in five (19.9%) who say they would not trust it at all.
Half of Americans (50.1%) say they are likely to use AI to check for symptoms before deciding whether to see a doctor, including nearly one in five (19.2%) who say they are “very likely” to do so.
Younger Americans are much more receptive to AI-powered symptom checks than older generations. Almost three-quarters (74.8%) of adults aged 18-24 say they are likely to use AI in this way, compared to just 32.8% of adults aged 55 and older.
The most commonly reported health concerns for which respondents rely on AI include cold or flu symptoms (37.7%), drug side effects or interactions (36.9%), stomach or digestive issues (32.5%), sleep issues (31.5%), and headaches or migraines (31.3%).
The survey found that respondents were less likely to consult an AI about child symptoms, sexual health concerns, or mental health issues.
Most Americans still use AI as a supplement rather than a replacement
After the initial AI assessment, more than one-third (36.6%) of respondents said they self-monitored symptoms without seeking medical attention after using the AI, and nearly the same percentage (36.4%) said interacting with the AI reassured them that the problem was not serious. Nearly three in 10 (28.5%) reported receiving medication or treatment at home.
