Americans are using AI for health questions, but the available U.S. surveys measure AI tools or chatbots broadly—not ChatGPT alone. A 2025 Gallup survey found that 25% of U.S. adults had used an AI tool or chatbot for health information or advice. A separate Pew survey in June 2026 found that 34% had ever used an AI chatbot for at least one of eight specified health reasons. Those figures describe different questions and timeframes, and neither establishes that chatbot advice is medically accurate or safe.
How many Americans use AI for health advice?
In a nationally representative survey of more than 5,500 U.S. adults, fielded October 27 to December 22, 2025, West Health-Gallup found that 25% had used an AI tool or chatbot for health information or advice. The survey was not a ChatGPT-only count. Gallup’s report says general conversational AI systems such as ChatGPT or Copilot were the most frequently reported tools among recent users (61%); AI summaries embedded in web searches followed (55%).
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Pew Research Center asked a different question in a survey of 3,488 U.S. adults fielded June 22–28, 2026: whether respondents had ever used an AI chatbot for at least one of eight specified health and medical reasons. Thirty-four percent said yes. That is an “ever used” measure, not the same as Gallup’s broader AI-tool question or its recent-use follow-ups. Neither survey provides a standalone estimate of Americans using ChatGPT for health advice. Pew’s report details the reasons respondents gave.
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Pew respondents most often cited getting information quickly and figuring out what might be causing symptoms. Other reasons included learning about treatment, understanding a diagnosis or lab results, and deciding whether to seek care.
#1 Best Overall
| Reason for using an AI chatbot | Share of U.S. adults who had ever used one for this reason |
|---|---|
| Getting health information quickly | 28% |
| Figuring out what was causing symptoms | 25% |
| Getting low-cost or free health information | 22% |
| Learning about treatment information | 22% |
| Learning more about a doctor’s diagnosis | 22% |
| Understanding lab results | 20% |
| Getting information they were uncomfortable discussing | 18% |
| Deciding whether to see a doctor | 15% |
These are the reasons listed in Pew’s survey, not quotations from respondents. In ordinary terms, they amount to questions such as: “What’s causing these symptoms?”, “Can you explain my lab results?”, “What does this diagnosis mean?”, “What are the treatment options?”, and “Should I see a doctor?”
Among recent users in Gallup’s survey, commonly reported subjects included nutrition or exercise (59%), physical symptoms (58%), medication side effects (46%), interpreting medical information (44%), and researching a diagnosis or condition (38%). These percentages describe topic areas reported by recent AI health-information users, not all U.S. adults.
Rank #2
Do people use AI instead of seeing a doctor?
Often, people report using AI around a clinician visit rather than instead of one. In the Gallup survey, among recent AI health-information users, 59% said they used AI to research before seeing a doctor and 56% said they used it after seeing a doctor.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsBut some users also reported skipping care: 14% of recent users said AI information had led them to skip a provider visit in the past 30 days. Gallup projected that self-reported figure to an estimated 14 million U.S. adults. The survey does not establish whether those visits were necessary, whether AI caused a health outcome, or whether the information was correct.
Do users find chatbot health information helpful or trustworthy?
In Pew’s survey, among people who had used chatbots for health information, 47% said it was extremely or very helpful, 48% said somewhat helpful, and 5% said not too or not at all helpful. These are users’ impressions; the survey did not test the information for medical quality or safety. Gallup found that just 4% of recent AI health-information users strongly trusted its accuracy.
Perceived usefulness is not a reliability check. A chatbot can produce a clear, reassuring answer that is incomplete or wrong, and the cited surveys do not measure diagnostic performance or determine whether advice is safe for any particular person.
Rank #4
How comfortable are people sharing health information?
Pew found mixed comfort among chatbot health users: 29% were very or extremely comfortable sharing personal health information, 42% somewhat comfortable, and 26% not too or not at all comfortable. Comfort levels do not establish how a particular service handles data. Privacy depends on the product, feature, settings, and information shared.
For ChatGPT Health specifically, OpenAI says connected medical records and Apple Health information—and conversations using that connected data—are not used to train foundation models or target ads. The company says ordinary ChatGPT conversations that do not use Health-connected data follow standard account training-setting choices. Users can disconnect sources; OpenAI says synced source data is deleted within 30 days, while information already in conversation history remains until those conversations are deleted. Read OpenAI’s Health in ChatGPT Help Center article for the feature’s current details.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What ChatGPT Health is—and is not—for
OpenAI describes ChatGPT Health as a dedicated space for health conversations and connected data. Its stated boundary is clear: “Health is designed to support, not replace, medical care. It is not intended for diagnosis or treatment.” The company’s Help Center adds: “For urgent symptoms or emergencies, seek immediate professional help.” See OpenAI’s ChatGPT Health announcement.
As stated in the Help Center in September 2026, Health was available to eligible logged-in U.S. users aged 18 or older on Free, Go, Plus, and Pro, on web and iOS, with a gradual rollout. Connecting Apple Health requires an iPhone. Availability and integrations can change, so check the Help Center for current access before relying on a particular feature.
Quick Recap
How to use a chatbot without treating it as a clinician
- Use it to prepare questions. Ask for plain-language explanations or a list of points to raise at an appointment.
- Verify consequential information. Confirm medication, test, diagnosis, and treatment details with a qualified clinician or a reliable medical source.
- Do not use it to rule out urgent problems. For urgent symptoms or emergencies, seek immediate professional help.
- Be deliberate about sensitive data. Review the product’s privacy information and settings, and share only what is needed for the question.
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