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Use of Artificial Intelligence for Medical Advice

Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly being used to provide information, support health-related tasks and answer questions about wellness. AI chatbots—including general-purpose tools such as ChatGPT and Claude, as well as AI-powered wellness apps, health platforms and specialized bots—use large language models (LLMs) and other technologies to generate responses based on patterns in large amounts of data. While these tools can be useful for general health education and wellness support, they are not healthcare providers and should not replace professional medical care, diagnosis or treatment.

AI chatbots should never be used during emergencies or urgent health crises. Call 911 if you or someone around you are experiencing a medical emergency. Seek medical care promptly for symptoms that are severe, worsening or causing concern.

What AI Can and Can’t Do

AI tools cannot replace professional medical care. This means:

  • AI chatbots cannot give personal medical advice. They do not know your medical history, symptoms or personal health needs.
  • AI chatbots cannot diagnose medical conditions. Only trained healthcare providers can evaluate symptoms and make medical decisions.
  • AI chatbots cannot ask thoughtful questions the same way a healthcare provider can. Healthcare providers are trained to ask follow-up questions that help them better understand a patient’s symptoms, medical history and concerns. These questions help providers make informed decisions about the patient’s care.
  • AI chatbots cannot determine whether you should start, stop or change medications. They don't know your medical history, why the medicine was started, what the goals are, ways to minimize side effects, and the benefits, risks and alternatives.
  • AI chatbots cannot guarantee accuracy. They may give outdated, incomplete or biased information because they are trained on large amounts of online information that is not always medically reviewed. Some of that information is likely to be opinion, such as a blog or post from a non-medical professional.

While AI should not be used instead of a medical professional, it may help with general health education. AI chatbots can:

  • Explain health topics and simplify medical language.
  • Summarize findings from medical journals or scientific publications.
  • Support health-related tasks. They can help create exercise plans, meal-prep ideas or look up local classes.
  • Help you prepare for medical appointments. AI chatbots can help you plan questions to ask your healthcare provider.

Always confirm health information and advice with a medical professional. Do not use AI chatbots to make decisions about your health, including diagnoses, treatment plans or medications.

Protect Your Privacy When Using AI

When you use an AI chatbot, it’s important to think about your privacy. AI tools do not protect your information the same way healthcare providers do, and the data you share may not be secure. Some things to remember:

  • Avoid sharing medical and personal information with AI chatbots. Many AI tools do not follow privacy rules that protect health information and are not covered by HIPAA.
  • Conversations with AI chatbots are not protected by doctor-patient confidentiality. You may not know who has access to your data or how it may be used.
  • If using AI, only use it for general questions and not for anything that requires providing private medical data.

Alternatives for Using AI for Medical Advice

AI should not be used for medical advice, especially as a primary source of healthcare information. UT Austin students have access to healthcare resources:

  • University Health Services: Accredited on-campus medical facility with comprehensive healthcare services including primary care, preventive services and specialized care.
  • 24/7 Nurse Advice Line (512-475-6877): Guidance on how to care for an illness or injury at home or whether or how soon to see a healthcare provider.
  • Schedule a UHS Appointment: For questions about symptoms, medications, treatment options or other health concerns, schedule an appointment through the MyUHS/CMHC Portal or call 512-471-4955.