Welcome to the forefront of conversational AI as we explore the fascinating world of AI chatbots in our dedicated blog series. Discover the latest advancements, applications, and strategies that propel the evolution of chatbot technology. From enhancing customer interactions to streamlining business processes, these articles delve into the innovative ways artificial intelligence is shaping the landscape of automated conversational agents. Whether you’re a business owner, developer, or simply intrigued by the future of interactive technology, join us on this journey to unravel the transformative power and endless possibilities of AI chatbots.
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Xiaoqian Jiang, PhD, associate vice president for medical AI, chair of the Department of Health Data Science and Artificial Intelligence at McWilliams School of Biomedical Informatics at UTHealth Houston.
Welcome to “Ask the Expert,” a UTHealth Houston news series where our leading experts examine pressing health challenges. In this edition, we address using artificial intelligence for health advice.
The increasing prevalence and accessibility of artificial intelligence means that most individuals have quick, easy access to a wealth of information. It may be tempting to turn to AI for health advice, but it’s important that patients know AI advice is not appropriate in certain circumstances. When used responsibly, these tools can serve as a great starting point for those navigating health questions and concerns—but AI should never be used in place of diagnosis and treatment from a medical professional.
What are some ways AI can be useful in providing basic health information?
An AI chatbot can turn clinical language into plain English. That is useful for a few tasks:
AI should not be used to diagnose, triage, or treat a patient without a human medical professional in the loop.
Why might you need to provide context to a chatbot when seeking medical advice?
AI models answer only from what you type. A vague prompt produces a generic reply. Some examples of useful context you should provide to a chatbot might be:
While it’s important to give the chatbot context, users should not enter their name, date of birth, address, medical record number, or a clinician’s name. Commercial systems may store queries or have people review them, raising privacy concerns. Describe your situation, but leave out your identity.
Can you give some examples of AI prompts for those looking for medical advice?
From a prompt perspective, I would suggest asking chatbots for explanations or advice on appointment prep. Do not ask for a diagnosis or a change in treatment. For example:
Lab Results
Appointment preparation
Prescription questions
Can AI provide inaccurate or misleading health information? How can users recognize potential red flags?
Current AI models are built to predict the likely next words. They have no clinical judgment and no responsibility for the outcome. Some common failures:
We should educate users to treat the reply as unsafe if it does the following.
How can someone know when they require medical attention rather than AI assistance?
Do not use a chatbot for an emergency or for a diagnosis.
Call 911 for:
See a clinician if your symptoms last more than a few days, worsen, or require an exam, a prescription, imaging, or blood work. A clinician should also be sought if an infant, young child, or person with a weak immune system has fever or breathing symptoms.
The take-home message is to use the tool to prepare questions for your provider. Diagnosis and treatment should always be provided by a licensed clinician.
By Xiaoqian Jiang, PhD, associate vice president for Medical AI, chair of the Department of Health Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, and the Christopher Sarofim Professor in Bioinformatics and Bioengineering at McWilliams School of Biomedical Informatics at UTHealth Houston. All quotes should be attributed to him.
The following expert commentary can be used by journalists and media organizations in their own publications and news coverage.
Please attribute all quotes to Xiaoqian Jiang, PhD, chair of the Department of Health Data Science and Artificial Intelligence at McWilliams School of Biomedical Informatics at UTHealth Houston.
For media inquiries or if you would like to submit future health topics: [email protected] or 713-500-3030
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