Poll Reveals One in Seven Rely on AI Chatbots Over Doctor Visits

Key Takeaways

One in seven UK adults prefer AI chatbots for healthcare advice over visiting their doctor.
Major reasons for using chatbots include NHS waiting lists, convenience, and curiosity.
Public opinion is mixed, with significant concerns about AI’s impact on mental health and professional healthcare reliance.

AI Chatbots and Healthcare: A Growing Preference Among UK Adults

A recent poll by King’s College London reveals that 14% of UK adults prefer seeking healthcare advice from AI chatbots instead of visiting their doctors. The survey, conducted in March 2026, included 2,083 participants aged 18 and older, with notable findings about the motivations and perceptions around AI in healthcare.

Convenience emerged as a primary reason for turning to chatbots, with 46% of respondents citing it as a factor. Additionally, 25% pointed to the lengthy NHS waiting lists as a key motivator, while 45% expressed curiosity and 39% felt uncertain about the seriousness of their symptoms.

Responses from users of AI for health advice indicate a generally positive outlook; 59% reported benefits to their physical health, and 53% noted improved mental health. In contrast, public sentiment regarding AI chatbots’ overall impact is less favorable: 42% believe they are detrimental to mental health, while only 31% view them positively. Opinions on physical health are similarly mixed, with 33% considering them harmful and 36% beneficial.

Amy Clark, a senior policy fellow at the Policy Institute at King’s College London, emphasized the disconnect between AI usage and public sentiment. “People are already turning to AI chatbots instead of their GP, driven by convenience and stretched NHS capacity—yet the wider public remains anxious about where this is heading,” she said. Women and younger individuals, in particular, expressed skepticism, challenging the assumption that technological familiarity breeds acceptance.

Concerns over the reliability of AI for health advice were highlighted by users, with 20% stating that AI did not prompt them to seek professional opinions. Furthermore, 21% reported that an AI chatbot’s advice deterred them from consulting healthcare professionals.

Elizabeth Anderson, chief executive of the Digital Poverty Alliance, remarked on the implications of this trend. “One in seven people preferring AI for health advice reflects growing pressure on public services and a wider shift in information access,” she noted. While Anderson acknowledged the potential benefits of AI, she reaffirmed the necessity of human expertise and compassionate care in medical contexts.

The survey also indicated strong opposition among younger demographics towards clinical uses of AI in the NHS; nearly half (49%) of individuals aged 18 to 24 expressed disapproval, compared to only 36% of those aged 65 and older. Anderson emphasized the importance of equipping people with the skills needed to engage with AI technologies critically and safely, especially regarding health decisions.

Last year, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) cautioned against allowing AI chatbots to replace professional advice following findings that one in four UK patients were already seeking health guidance through AI and social media. Further research published in Nature Medicine indicated that ChatGPT Health inaccurately triages over 50% of medical emergencies and often fails to recognize suicidal ideation, underscoring the need for caution in relying on AI for health-related advice.

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