AI tone and provider trust shape medical information landscape

A 2026 KFF Women’s Health Survey indicates that healthcare providers remain the most trusted source of reproductive health information, with 86% of reproductive-age women expressing trust in them. In contrast, trust in AI tools and chatbots stands at 25%, while social media and influencers receive only 15% trust. Despite this, 87% of women report seeking health advice online through search engines, social media, or AI tools, often encountering misinformation regarding contraception.

Research from Washington State University suggests that the effectiveness of AI in combating such medical misinformation depends heavily on the tone used during corrections. The study, published in the International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction, found that users who view AI as a technical tool respond best to neutral, fact-based tones. Conversely, users who perceive AI as humanlike are more persuaded by empathetic and understanding tones. The researchers suggest that platforms and agencies could improve fact-checking by adjusting AI conversational styles to match a user's tendency to assign human characteristics to machines.