Patients trust AI's medical advice over doctors - even when it's wrong, study finds

A recent study has found that patients are more likely to trust medical advice from artificial intelligence (AI) systems over their own doctors, even when the AI's recommendations are incorrect. The study, conducted by researchers at the University of Chicago, involved participants being presented with various medical scenarios and asked to choose between AI-generated advice or their doctor's recommendation. The results showed that participants often chose the AI's advice, even when it was contradictory to their doctor's expertise. This trend held true regardless of the accuracy of the AI's recommendations, suggesting that patients may have an inherent bias towards trusting technology over human expertise. The study highlights the potential risks of over-reliance on AI in healthcare, as patients may be willing to disregard their doctor's professional judgment in favor of AI-generated advice. Researchers emphasize the need for greater transparency and education around the limitations and potential biases of AI systems in the medical field to ensure patients make informed decisions about their healthcare.