Millions of desperate patients are quietly abandoning the waiting room for a digital alternative, with a staggering 66 million people across the US now turning to artificial intelligence for physical and mental health advice.
According to a major new study released today by the West Health-Gallup Center on Healthcare in America, a massive societal shift is underway. While the majority of patients use AI to supplement their doctor visits, a disturbing new divide is emerging, with millions of citizens relying on chatbots because they simply cannot afford — or cannot access — human healthcare.
The findings are based on a nationally representative survey of more than 5,500 adults conducted between October and December 2025.
The digital second opinion
The study reveals that 71 per cent of recent AI health users turned to the technology because they wanted answers quickly, while the same proportion sought additional information about a condition.
For many, AI is becoming a vital preparation tool. Roughly six in 10 users reported consulting a chatbot to do their own research before (59 per cent) or after (56 per cent) seeing a doctor. However, this trend is heavily divided by generation: 69 per cent of young adults aged 18 to 29 research their symptoms via AI before an appointment, compared with just 43 per cent of those aged 65 and older.
When Americans do consult these algorithms, everyday health questions top the list. Users frequently seek advice on nutrition and exercise (59 per cent) or physical symptoms (58 per cent). However, the technology is increasingly being used for complex and sensitive issues, with 46 per cent using AI to understand medication side effects, 44 per cent using it to interpret dense medical information, and nearly a quarter (24 per cent) relying on it for mental and emotional health concerns.
Overcoming barriers and stigma
For many patients, this digital homework is producing tangible benefits. Almost half (46 per cent) of users stated the AI made them feel significantly more confident about asking their human provider questions. Furthermore, 22 per cent said the chatbot helped them identify a medical issue earlier, and 19 per cent claimed it helped them avoid unnecessary medical tests or procedures.
Beyond convenience, AI is also helping patients bypass the systemic failings of modern healthcare. A staggering 42 per cent of users turned to AI because they needed help outside of normal business hours, and 16 per cent said they simply could not access a provider.
Tragically, human failings are also driving patients to the machines. One in five users (21 per cent) consulted an AI because they had felt dismissed or ignored by a human provider in the past, and 18 per cent admitted they were too embarrassed to talk to a real person about their condition.
Joe Daly, Global Managing Partner at Gallup, said: “This data indicates that while some Americans may be using artificial intelligence as a substitute for going to the doctor’s office, many see it as a tool to complement their healthcare, helping them understand symptoms they might be feeling and clarify any diagnosis they receive from their doctors.”
Cost of human care
While self-directed research remains the primary driver, a significant proportion of Americans are using AI as a direct replacement for human physicians due to soaring medical costs.
Among recent AI users, 27 per cent stated they did not want to pay for a doctor’s visit, while 14 per cent were entirely unable to pay. This financial barrier disproportionately impacts the poorest members of society. Nearly a third (32 per cent) of adults earning less than $24,000 annually used AI because they could not afford a doctor, compared with just two per cent of those earning $180,000 or more.
When projected to the full US adult population, the survey suggests roughly 14 million Americans did not see a medical provider specifically because of the information or advice they received from an AI.
A crisis of trust
Despite this heavy reliance on digital doctors, public trust in the technology remains highly fractured. Only a third (33 per cent) of users say they generally trust the AI’s advice, while 34 per cent actively distrust it.
Only four per cent of users strongly trust the accuracy of the AI’s medical advice, indicating that millions of Americans are making vital healthcare decisions based on algorithms they do not fully believe in. Furthermore, more than one in 10 users (11 per cent) reported that the chatbot recommended advice they believed was genuinely unsafe.
Tim Lash, President of the West Health Policy Center, warned that the medical establishment must rapidly adapt to this new reality.
“Artificial intelligence is already reshaping how Americans seek health information, make decisions and engage with providers, and health systems must keep pace,” Lash said. “The risk isn’t that AI is moving too fast — it’s that health systems may move too slowly to guide its use in healthcare responsibly.”
