AI Medical Advice: Risks and Rewards

Published Date : 14/08/2025 

Patients, particularly younger individuals, are increasingly turning to AI tools like ChatGPT for medical advice. While this trend can be beneficial, it also poses significant risks. 

People are increasingly turning to artificial intelligence for various problems, and medical issues appear to be no exception. Photo/Colourbox

Doctors interviewed by Morgunblaðið agree that it is becoming increasingly common for people to seek health advice from artificial intelligence for both physical and mental ailments. Patients — especially younger ones — often arrive for appointments and mention that they have already consulted the AI tool ChatGPT about their symptoms, which in turn has offered certain suggestions for diagnosis or treatment.

These AI-generated suggestions are often of varying quality, making it risky to rely on them too heavily. Sources within the healthcare system told Morgunblaðið that there have been cases where patients received poor advice from AI, advice that in some instances even had a negative impact on their treatment.

The technology is here to stay

Gunnar Þór Geirsson, a family doctor and secretary of the Icelandic College of General Practitioners, told Morgunblaðið that the trend toward more people seeking AI advice does not necessarily have to be negative, but that how people use the technology is crucial. “It’s also a question of how you use it and how you ask. There can be a certain skill to it,” Geirsson said.

He added that this is a technology that is here to stay: “There will certainly be some negative sides to it, but also positive ones. It’s also worth asking whether professionals should try to create some sort of framework for how best to use this technology.” 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS): 

Q: What is ChatGPT?

A: ChatGPT is an AI tool developed by OpenAI that can generate text and provide responses to user queries, including medical advice.

Q: Why are younger patients more likely to use AI for medical advice?

A: Younger patients tend to be more comfortable with technology and are more likely to seek quick, accessible information online.

Q: What are the risks of relying on AI-generated medical advice?

A: The quality of AI-generated advice can vary, and it may sometimes provide incorrect or harmful suggestions, which can negatively impact a patient's health.

Q: What is the Icelandic College of General Practitioners?

A: The Icelandic College of General Practitioners is a professional organization representing family doctors in Iceland, focusing on improving the quality of primary healthcare.

Q: How can the use of AI in healthcare be made safer?

A: Creating a framework for how to use AI tools, educating patients on the limitations of AI, and involving healthcare professionals in the process can help make AI use in healthcare safer and more effective. 

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