The study by the University of Westminster and University College London (UCL) found that people preferred to speak to a healthcare professional about severe conditions such as cancer, but were less inclined to do so with less severe conditions and those with a perceived stigma.
The researchers said the study shows there is a place for artificial-intelligence-powered chatbots, particularly when the health issue involves the disclosure of personal information that is challenging.
But the research team warned that the healthcare sector also needs to recognise the limitations of such technology and only use it in certain scenarios.
According to the research team, chatbots had become increasingly common in recent years within primary care, as AI technology had improved. But they argued this had occurred without sufficient evidence for their feasibility and effectiveness.
“Many AI developers need to assess whether their AI-based healthcare tools such as symptoms...