Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming healthcare, from diagnosing diseases to recommending treatments. Chatbots, symptom checkers, and AI-driven virtual assistants have made health information more accessible than ever. However, as more people turn to AI for medical advice, concerns about misdiagnosis, misinformation, and the risks of self-diagnosis are growing.
While AI can be a powerful tool, it is not a substitute for trained medical professionals. In recent years, multiple cases have emerged where AI has provided incorrect or even dangerous health recommendations.
AI Chatbots Providing Harmful Mental Health Advice
In May 2023, the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) had to shut down Tessa, its AI chatbot, after it was caught encouraging users to count calories and lose weight—the exact opposite of what an eating disorder support tool should do. The chatbot had replaced a human helpline, making the failure even more concerning.
This case underscores why AI cannot yet replace trained healthcare professionals, especially in mental health care, where nuance and empathy are crucial.
Symptom Checkers Failing at Diagnosing Serious Conditions
Online symptom checkers are widely used by people seeking quick medical advice, but research has shown they often fail to provide accurate diagnoses or appropriate care recommendations. A BMJ study evaluated 23 symptom checkers, including those from major health websites and AI-driven platforms, and found alarming results:
- Correct diagnosis was listed first only 34% of the time.
- In the top three suggestions, the correct diagnosis appeared only 58% of the time.
- Triage recommendations (whether to seek medical help) were only appropriate in 57% of cases.
This means that more than 40% of the time, AI-powered symptom checkers failed to guide patients to the right level of medical care—either advising them to delay necessary treatment or seek unnecessary medical attention.
Additionally, the study found that these tools were better at identifying common conditions but often misdiagnosed rare or serious diseases, raising concerns that patients with critical illnesses may not receive timely medical intervention.

(Source: BMJ – Comparison of self-diagnosis symptom checkers
URL: https://www.bmj.com/content/351/bmj.h3480)
The Risks of AI-Driven Healthcare Advice
1. Misdiagnosis and False Confidence
AI symptom checkers and chatbots can sometimes suggest rare or severe conditions for mild symptoms—or dismiss serious health issues altogether. The 2022 BMJ study shows that patients using AI may not get the right diagnosis or treatment guidance, leading to dangerous health decisions.
2. Lack of Medical History Consideration
Unlike human doctors, AI lacks access to a patient’s full medical history, lifestyle, or genetic factors. This means it cannot make fully informed decisions about a person’s health.
For example, an AI chatbot may fail to recognize that persistent headaches in one patient could be a sign of a brain tumor rather than just dehydration—something a human doctor would consider based on medical history and other symptoms.
3. Legal and Ethical Concerns
Unlike licensed medical professionals, AI chatbots are not legally accountable for misdiagnosis or harm caused by their recommendations. This raises ethical questions: Who is responsible when AI gets it wrong?
Even major AI developers, including OpenAI, Microsoft, and Google, have issued disclaimers stating that their models are not meant to provide medical advice—yet users frequently rely on them for just that.
Where AI is Useful in Healthcare
Despite these risks, AI has valuable applications in healthcare—when used properly and under medical supervision.
1. AI in Medical Imaging and Cancer Detection
AI has proven highly effective in medical imaging, helping doctors detect cancers, fractures, and other abnormalities.
- Mayo Clinic and Google Health’s AI model has improved early detection of breast cancer in mammograms, sometimes outperforming human radiologists (The Lancet).
- AI-powered tools like DeepMind’s AlphaFold are accelerating drug discovery and personalized medicine (Nature).
2. AI for Drug Discovery and Personalized Medicine
AI is speeding up drug research by analyzing large datasets to identify potential treatments faster than traditional methods.
For example, Insilico Medicine’s AI-discovered drug for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis entered human trials in 2023, marking a breakthrough in AI-driven drug development.
3. AI for Administrative and Predictive Healthcare
Hospitals are using AI to streamline patient records, predict disease outbreaks, and assist doctors in making faster diagnoses. This reduces workload on medical professionals while improving efficiency.
Why Human Doctors Are Still Essential
We understand the wonders of AI and how it can seemingly do everything for us, but we urge our readers, especially those reading up on breast cancer and related medical concerns, to reconsider doing self-diagnosing using AI.
1. Nuanced Judgment in Complex Cases
AI can recognize patterns but struggles with rare diseases, conflicting symptoms, and contextual factors. Doctors rely on intuition, experience, and hands-on examination, which AI lacks.
2. Human Empathy and Communication
Medical care isn’t just about diagnosing diseases—it’s about understanding emotions, fears, and personal circumstances. AI chatbots cannot provide reassurance or build trust in the same way a human doctor can.
3. Ethical Oversight and Accountability
Doctors are held to strict medical standards. AI has no clear accountability when it gives bad medical advice, making it a high-risk tool when used improperly.
AI is a powerful tool in healthcare, but it should never replace human doctors. While it excels in medical imaging, drug discovery, and administrative support, it fails at accurate self-diagnosis, mental health support, and complex medical decision-making.Patients should use AI cautiously and always consult a qualified doctor for serious health concerns. AI may assist in medicine, but human expertise, empathy, and judgment remain irreplaceable in ensuring safe and ethical healthcare.