Don’t leave your health in the hands of AI prompts

Three common health questions Dr AI cannot answer

Google’s recent decision to remove some AI-generated health summaries from its search results has reignited an old but important conversation about how people seek and interpret medical information online. Following an international investigation, the technology giant confirmed it had withdrawn AI Overviews for certain health-related searches after inaccuracies were identified in its responses.

At the heart of the issue is a fundamental limitation of artificial intelligence (AI) when applied to healthcare – something AI tools and providers themselves acknowledge. ChatGPT, for example, explicitly states in its service terms that it is not intended for medical diagnosis or treatment.

Yet despite these warnings, Dr Jess Morris, General Practitioner (GP) at Mediclinic Morningside says many people are increasingly turning to AI to help interpret symptoms or test results before consulting a doctor. “In some cases, this can cause unnecessary stress, but in others it can create false reassurance, delaying professional care when early intervention could make a critical difference.”

Dr Morris goes on to unpack three common health concerns that even the most sophisticated AI chatbot cannot reliably address.

1. Do I have high blood pressure?
   
   The challenge with high blood pressure, or hypertension, is that it often lacks any obvious symptoms. As Dr Morris points out, many people only discover they have dangerously high readings during routine check-ups for other unrelated health matters.
   
   “By the time symptoms such as chest pain, blurred vision or anxiety appear, a person may already be experiencing a hypertensive crisis,” he explains. “A single reading, or an online reference range, cannot show how blood pressure behaves over time or during sleep, nor can it reflect an individual’s risk of stroke or heart disease.”
   
   This is why regular monitoring and professional interpretation are essential. Dr Morris recommends doing a 24-hour blood pressure check at least twice a year.
   
   
2. Should I worry about my cholesterol level?
   
   Cholesterol levels present a similar problem. Online resources and AI chatbots can explain what cholesterol is and outline general thresholds, but they cannot assess the balance between different types of cholesterol or determine how those levels interact with personal risk factors.
   
   “Many people with abnormal lipid levels feel perfectly well until they experience a heart attack or stroke,” notes Dr Morris, who adds that doctors consider cholesterol results alongside family history, weight, age and other key conditions such as diabetes to decide whether lifestyle changes are sufficient or whether medication is needed.
   
   For people with a severe family history of lipid abnormality, he recommends cholesterol screening from age 16. If there is no family history or other risk factors, such as obesity or diabetes, screening can start after age 30, and if results remain normal, annual screening is sufficient.
   
   
3. Am I prediabetic?
   
   Prediabetes is another area where oversimplified answers can often fall short. “Blood glucose levels that sit slightly above normal do not automatically mean someone will develop diabetes, nor do they guarantee safety,” he explains. “Prediabetes often has no symptoms and is typically identified through screening tests such as HbA1C, which reflects blood sugar levels over several months rather than at a single point in time.”
   
   Clinicians interpret these results together with changes in weight, activity levels and previous test outcomes to build an accurate picture. Importantly, prediabetes is reversible, but only when it is correctly identified and managed.
   
   These three examples highlight why there is rarely a universal normal in healthcare. “Medical test results are pieces of a larger puzzle, not definitive answers in isolation,” he says. “While AI tools can help people access general information, they are not equipped to replace clinical judgement or personalised care.
   
   "When it comes to understanding your health, there is no shortcut that replaces a conversation with a qualified healthcare professional who can consider the full context and guide you towards appropriate care,” Dr Morris concludes.