A shift in how we search for answers
For years, when something didn’t feel quite right – an odd twinge, a strange rash, or a bout of insomnia, I’d do what most people do: head straight to Google. A few keywords later and I’d be knee-deep in articles, forums, and medical sites, slowly convincing myself I was minutes away from a life-threatening condition. Sound familiar?
Google has long been our go-to for health worries, big or small. But recently, something’s shifted. More and more people, including me are turning to AI chatbots like ChatGPT to get quick, understandable health advice. It’s not perfect, but it’s definitely changing the way we search for answers.
So why the switch?
Part of it is the sheer information overload you get from a Google search. Type in “groin pain after exercise” and you’ll be greeted with pages and pages of results, everything from NHS articles to obscure blogs and forums. Some of it helpful, some of it absolute nonsense. And, inevitably, the more you read, the more likely you are to start catastrophising.
It’s exhausting.
With something like ChatGPT, you can just ask a question and get a straightforward, sensible response. No ads, no clickbait, no scrolling through 10 websites to piece things together.
A personal example
A while back I picked up a strain in my adductor (inner thigh) after a wing-foil session in mid Feb – I hadn’t warmed enough for tackling the icy waters! Walking was uncomfortable, sitting for long periods was worse, and getting out of the car was suddenly a three-stage process involving a lot of grimacing.
Normally, I’d fire up Google and try to diagnose it myself, diving into a spiral of medical websites and forums filled with conflicting advice. But this time I asked ChatGPT what I could do to ease the pain and help it heal. Within seconds, I had a clear explanation of the injury, what not to do, and a list of sensible recovery exercises, including mobility drills, foam rolling etc and when to reintroduce gentle strength work.
I still double-checked with a physio friend just to be safe, but ChatGPT gave me a head start and helped me avoid wasting time on dodgy advice or unhelpful “just rest it” suggestions.
What makes chatbots so useful?
It’s not that AI knows more than a doctor, it definitely doesn’t. But it’s good at cutting through the noise and giving you a structured, easy-to-digest response. Ask a follow-up question, and it remembers the context. It’s like having a very well-read assistant who doesn’t get annoyed when you ask the same thing twice.
There’s also less of the scare factor. AI chatbots don’t tend to go straight for the worst-case scenario like search engines do. They’re generally calmer, more balanced. You get information, not panic.
And let’s be honest – sometimes you just want a bit of guidance before deciding whether it’s worth bothering your GP…assuming you can get past the four-week wait for an appointment.
Still some big caveats
Now, let’s not get carried away. AI isn’t a doctor. It doesn’t know your full medical history, can’t examine you, and can’t rule things out properly. It can also get things wrong, or phrase things in a way that sounds more confident than it should.
There’s also the issue of bias and outdated information. These models are trained on all sorts of data, some of it great, some of it…questionable. You still need to think critically and cross-check with proper medical sources when it really matters.
So, where does this all lead?
I don’t think AI will replace doctors. But I do think it’s going to become a standard first stop for everyday health questions. Instead of wading through ten articles on Google, we’ll ask an AI to summarise the options, flag anything serious, and point us in the right direction.
We’re already seeing this kind of shift in healthcare tech. The NHS has trialled AI triage tools. Private apps are using it to assist with everything from symptom checking to mental health support. It’s early days, but it’s happening.
If you’ve ever lost half an hour of your life Googling symptoms and come away more anxious than when you started, you’ll probably find an AI chatbot refreshingly sane.
No, it’s not a substitute for professional medical advice. But for quick guidance, reassurance, or even just making sense of all the jargon, it’s a genuinely helpful tool. Think of it as your digital health answer engine – one that’s available 24/7, doesn’t judge, and knows how to explain things in plain English.
For me, it’s goodbye Doctor Google. From now on, Consultant ChatGPT is my first port of call.
