Artificial intelligence has more trust from parents than actual doctors.
That’s according to a new study from the University of Kansas Longevity Research Institute, which found that parents looking for information about their children’s health are turning to AI more than human medical professionals.
The study, published in the Journal of Pediatric Psychology, also found that parents rated AI-generated texts as “trustworthy, moral, and trustworthy.”
What is artificial intelligence?
More than 100 parents between the ages of 18 and 65 were asked to rate texts generated by ChatGPT (an AI chatbot made by OpenAI) under the supervision of a human doctor or expert.
The study concluded that ChatGPT “may influence behavioral intentions for medication, sleep, and dietary decisions.”
“We are concerned that without proper expert oversight, people will increasingly rely on AI for health advice,” the study’s lead author said in a press release. (St. Petersburg)
The study also found that there was “little difference” between ChatGPTs and experts on benchmarks of perceived morality, trustworthiness, expertise, accuracy, and trustworthiness.
However, when differences were observed, ChatGPT’s responses were rated higher in terms of reliability and accuracy, and participants said they were more likely to rely on the chatbot’s information.
More and more doctors are using CHATGPT to help with their busy workdays, but is AI a reliable assistant?
Carissa Leslie Miller, the study’s lead author and a doctoral student in clinical child psychology at the University of Kansas, noted that the study began shortly after ChatGPT was launched.
“We were concerned about parents using this new and easy method to collect their children’s health information,” she wrote in a press release.
“Parents often turn to the internet for advice, so we wanted to understand what happens when you use ChatGPT and what you need to worry about.”
Study participants said they were more likely to rely on ChatGPT to get answers about their child’s health. (Frank Rumpenhorst/Photo in association with Getty Images)
Leslie Miller said the results were surprising to researchers because it was in the early stages of ChatGPT’s availability.
“We’re starting to see AI being integrated in ways that aren’t immediately obvious, and people may not even know whether they’re reading AI-generated text or expert content.” she pointed out.
The researchers warned that while ChatGPT “works well in many cases”, the AI model is “not an expert” and could still produce incorrect information.
“People may not even realize whether they are reading AI-generated text or expert content.”
“It is important to address this issue because it can have serious implications for children’s health,” she said.
“We are concerned that people will come to rely on AI for health advice without proper professional supervision.”
Leslie Miller suggested that AI users should be careful about the information provided by chatbots and rely only on information that is “consistent with the expertise available from non-generative AI sources.”
One researcher advised parents to rely only on information that is “consistent with the expertise available from non-generative AI sources.” (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File)
Dr. Harvey Castro, a Texas ER doctor and AI expert, told FOX News Digital that as technology is “increasingly integrated into our lives,” parents are finding it difficult to provide “simple health care advice.” He said he understands why people would turn to tools like ChatGPT for this.
“The immediacy and convenience of AI is very appealing, especially to busy parents who need answers 24/7.”
“The immediacy and convenience of AI is very appealing, especially to busy parents who need answers 24/7,” he said.
Castro agreed with researchers that combining human expertise with AI is “much more effective” than relying on unsupervised AI, especially when it comes to children’s health.
Click here to sign up for our health newsletter
“Although AI can provide valuable preliminary information, it cannot fully capture the nuances of a child’s unique medical history, subtle symptoms, and years of specialized training,” he said.
“The human element becomes irreplaceable here. The involvement of qualified medical professionals, especially pediatricians, ensures that the information is accurate, personalized and secure,” Castro said. He continued. “It’s important to stay on top of the right people.”
“The human element is irreplaceable and the involvement of qualified medical professionals, especially pediatricians, ensures that the information is accurate, personalized and secure,” the doctor said. Ta. (St. Petersburg)
Castro added that pediatricians can interpret children’s health information generated by AI and make “informed decisions” that AI cannot.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Experts advised parents to use AI tools as a starting point when searching for answers about their child’s health, but to “always consult a pediatrician” afterward.
Castro said that by combining the two, medical professionals can “improve the quality of care and capture nuances that might otherwise be missed.”
For more health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health.
“Together, we can leverage technology to provide faster, more efficient care without sacrificing the personal touch and critical thinking that only humans can provide.”
Fox News Digital has reached out to researchers for comment.
