Artificial Intelligence (AI) Chatbots in Medicine: A Supplement, Not a Substitute

This editorial discusses the role of artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots in the healthcare sector, emphasizing their potential as supplements rather than substitutes for medical professionals. While AI chatbots have demonstrated significant potential in managing routine tasks, processing vast amou...

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Published inCurēus (Palo Alto, CA) Vol. 15; no. 6; p. e40922
Main Authors Altamimi, Ibraheem, Altamimi, Abdullah, Alhumimidi, Abdullah S, Altamimi, Abdulaziz, Temsah, Mohamad-Hani
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States Cureus Inc 25.06.2023
Cureus
Subjects
Artificial intelligence
Chatbots
Clinical outcomes
Collaboration
Decision making
Diagnostic tests
Empathy
Ethics
Health care industry
Healthcare Technology
Integrated approach
Integrative/Complementary Medicine
Medical Education
Medical research
Medicine
Mental health
Patients
Pediatrics
Professionals
Saudi Arabia
Riyadh Saudi Arabia
human-machine collaboration
ai limitations
ai chatbots
medical professionals
artificial intelligence (ai)
ethics in ai
healthcare efficiency
patient care
regulatory measures
healthcare
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Summary:This editorial discusses the role of artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots in the healthcare sector, emphasizing their potential as supplements rather than substitutes for medical professionals. While AI chatbots have demonstrated significant potential in managing routine tasks, processing vast amounts of data, and aiding in patient education, they still lack the empathy, intuition, and experience intrinsic to human healthcare providers. Furthermore, the deployment of AI in medicine brings forth ethical and legal considerations that require robust regulatory measures. As we move towards the future, the editorial underscores the importance of a collaborative model, wherein AI chatbots and medical professionals work together to optimize patient outcomes. Despite the potential for AI advancements, the likelihood of chatbots completely replacing medical professionals remains low, as the complexity of healthcare necessitates human involvement. The ultimate aim should be to use technology like AI chatbots to enhance patient care and outcomes, not to replace the irreplaceable human elements of healthcare.
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ISSN:2168-8184
2168-8184
DOI:10.7759/cureus.40922