Over the Last Three Months, 8% of Americans First Turned to AI for Health Information or Advice

A new YouGov survey found that 8% of Americans have turned first to AI tools such as ChatGPT, Gemini and Claude for health information or advice in the past three months, rising to 11% of Millennials. While search engines (24%) and healthcare professionals (22%) remain the most common starting points, AI now ranks ahead of social media and online forums. Among those using AI for health-related activities, the most common reasons are understanding symptoms and researching health conditions (both 18%), while 37% say AI's greatest advantage is being available anytime.

The findings signal that AI is becoming part of the healthcare information journey rather than replacing traditional sources. Healthcare providers, hospitals, pharmacies, insurers and wellness brands have an opportunity to strengthen their digital presence with trustworthy, easy-to-understand content that helps consumers wherever they begin their search, while reinforcing the importance of professional medical guidance.