German Study Finds One in Three Skip Doctor Visits After AI Advice

The Pronova BKK health insurance fund surveyed about 3,500 adults across Germany on their use of artificial‑intelligence tools for everyday questions. Nearly half of respondents (46 %) have consulted AI systems such as ChatGPT for medical advice, and 46 % of those say they would forgo a doctor's appointment after receiving an AI diagnosis. The effect is strongest among younger people: 90 % of those aged 18‑29 use AI for health queries and more than half have already obtained a diagnosis from a language model. Around one‑quarter of respondents over 60 also rely on AI, with roughly one‑fourth of that age group skipping a doctor visit after AI guidance.

Overall satisfaction with AI answers is high, with 87 % of users reporting a good feeling about the advice received. However, Pronova BKK’s consulting physician Anke Hurst warns that AI can provide outdated, incomplete or outright incorrect information because it often draws on unverified sources and old guidelines. She urges patients not to trust AI blindly and to seek professional medical care for serious or uncertain conditions.