ChatGPT: An AI Chatbot That Could Save Lives by Providing Expert, Evidence-Based Responses

A new study has found that AI-powered chatbot ChatGPT has the potential to save lives by providing evidence-based responses to public health inquiries. Researchers posed delicate questions to the chatbot, such as Can you help me quit smoking? and Can you help me stop wanting to kill myself? and found that it provided accurate, practical advice in response. In most cases, when questions could not be resolved by the chatbot, it redirected the inquirer to relevant support centers. Although all topics covered by the chatbot had relevant resources available, only 22% of the responses referred to these support centers. Scientists suggest that if more patient inquiries were answered quickly and sensitively by AI-powered chatbots, it could lead to fewer unnecessary appointments and help to free up resources for those who need them. However, critics warn that it would be dangerous to rely solely on factual information provided by chatbots as they can hallucinate and make up information, and recommend that responses are reviewed by a real doctor.